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ABSTRACT OF A IOURNAI 



E. BACON., 

SISTANT AGENT C 

& 3* 3B 2 (& ii * 
WITH AN APPENDIX, 

RACTS FROM 

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY m ENGLJt. 



K ABSTRACT 0^ THE, 30lIl\NAL 5 



EEV J B. CATI 

TDLE MISSION AHIjfJS CEOTVt 

In an overland journey, performed in cornpai. 
ironths of February, March, and April, 1819. The whole showing tl> 
sons of the British and American Governments, In 



'HIJUiDELPHlA 



>*WSO: dHKEli OF DiCATPR A3TD MARKET 

1821 
Price Fiftj Cents 




lSTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, to +tr> 

BE IT REMEMBERKD, That on the twenty-second day 

£***» "J of November, in the forty-sixth year of the independence ot 

I U S ' 1 Ae Uritod&tS of America, A. D 1821. Ephraim Bacon of 

Ul the saJd District, hath deposited in this Office tjet.de * ■ 

Book, the right whereof he claims as author in the words following, to * it . 

"Abstract of a Journal of E. Bacon, assistant agent of the United States, 
to Aftica- with an Appendix, containing **^*"£Z»S*rR 
of the Church Missionary Society in England, for ? he yean ' "^J** 
To which is prefixed, an Abstract of the Journal of the Rev. J. »• CWes, 
Ine of tie l£SUi from Sierra Leone to Grand # ?^» "^2. 
land Tourney, performed in company with several natives, in the months 
of FebrCy March, and April, 1819. The whole showing Oh, sue 
cessful exertions of the British and American Governments, in repress- 
ing the Slave Trade." 

to conformity to the act of the Confess of the United States , en titled, 
« An Act for the encouragement of learning, ty«~" r ^ ff ^'?%S 
Ma7s, Charts and Books, to the authors mS proprietors ^ggj^g, 
duruur the times therein mentioned W -And also to the act, «"*»»!*" 
ATfuPplementary to an Act, entitled, « An Act for the encouragement 
of IS by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, o the 
IhorsTni' pSprSors ff such copies during ^^.^^TSl 
and extending Ae benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving » J 
etching historical and other prints." ^ CALDWELL, 

Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



ABSTRACT OF A JOURNAL 



\\ 

ASSISTANT AGENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 

TO 

WITH AN APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING 

EXTRACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS 

OP THE 

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY IN* ENGLAND, 

FOR THE TEARS 



TO WHICH 13 PREFIXED 

AN ABSTRACT 0¥ THE, JOURNAL, 

OF THE 

REV. J. B. GATES, 

ONE OF THE MISSIONARIES FROM SIERRA LEONE TO GRAND BAS5A ; 

In an overland journey, performed in company with several natives, in the 
months of February, March, and April, 1819. The whole showing the sue • 
cessful exertions of the British and American Governments, in repressing 



PHILADELPHIA : 



Published by S. rotter, Sf Co. No. 87, Chesnut &ti 

ICKINSON, PRINTER, CORNER OF DECATffB AND MARKET STREETS 

£831, 



T?Rfc¥ACE. ~| || 



THE Public have been already informed of tJie strenuous 
exertions of the United States Government, in enacting nume- 
rous laws for the purpose of suppressing the Slave Trade; 
and of the successful vigilance of our naval officers, in de- 
tecting those desperadoes, the slave-traders, and bringing them 
to justice* 

The Public have also been informed of the benevolent ope- 
rations of the American Colonization Society, in endeavouring 
to form a settlement on the western coast of Africa, composed 
of those free people of colour who choose to emigrate thither* 
It is moreover known that this settlement, if established, may 
prove an asylum for those Africans, who shall be re-captured 
by the United States cruizers, and sent to the coast. 

There is reason to hope that these acts of mercy will con- 
tribute to meliorate the sufferings of a large portion of the 
human race, by the final abolition of the Slave Trade, that 
scourge of Africa and disgrace of the civilized world; by in- 
troducing the arts of civilization and the blessings of the 
Christian religion, among a race of beings who have hitherto 
lived in heathen darkness, destitute of the light of the Gospel, 
or knowledge of a Saviour, by teaching the children of Etlti- 
opia to stretch forth her hands unto GOD. 

Raving been employed as an assistant agent of the United 
States, along with J. B. Winn, Esquire, principal agent in 
transporting to the coast of Africa a number of re-captured Af- 
ricans and free people of colour; the author has had art oppor- 
tunity of witnessing the degraded state of that section of the 
earth, and feels it a duty he owes to the souls of his fellow 
creatures to lay before the Christian world a plain statement 
of facts in relation to the subject, which he doubts not tvill 
be interesting to all, and confidently trusts useful to many. 

It may be proper to mention, that Mr. Winn, and the au- 
thor, were at companied in the expedition by the Rev. J, R. 
Andrns yrit clpal, and Mr. C. Wiltberger, assistant agenis of 
the Colonization Society, together with Mrs. Winn and Mrs. 
Bacon, in the brig Nautilus, Captain Blair. 

•TV*. B. The Author's n, was caused by ill health, 

from which he has recovered, and is desirous to return to that 
injured couniru rad spend the remainder of his days for the 
benefit of its inhabitants. 



ABSTRACT, &c. 



WE left Norfolk on the 21st of January, 1821 ? 
and on the &3d, sailed from Hampton Roads. For 
about thirty days we encountered head winds and 
strong gales, and made slow progress. During this 
time 1 was very sea-sick, as were also Mrs. Bacon, 
and the Rev. Mr. Andrus. The other agents were 
less afflicted ; some of the colonists suffered from the 
same malady. Our Captain was remarkably kind 
and attentive to those who were sick, and particu- 
larly to Mrs. Bacon and myself, when we were un- 
able to wait upon ourselves, for which kindness I 
shall always feel myself under very many obligations 
to him; and I think I speak the sentiments of my col- 
leagues. Nothing uncommon occurred during our 
voyage, except that we experienced a very severe 
gale of wind, accompanied with a snow storm, which 
our Captain told us was more violent than any he 
had known during the preceding twenty years. It 
was indeed a time to try our faith. 

Well did it become us with the Psalmist to ex- 
claim : 

O that men would praise the Lord for his good- 
ness ; and declare the wonders that he doeth for the 
children of men ! 

That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of 
thanksgiving; and tell out his works with gladness! 

They that go down to the sea in ships ; and oc- 
cupy their business in great waters ; 

These men see the works of the Lord, and hi* 
wonders in the deep. 



For at His word, the stormy wind ariseth, which 
lifteth up the waves thereof. 

They are carried up to the heaven, and down 
again to the deep ; their soul melteth away because 
of trouble. 

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken 
man ; and are at their wits end. 

So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, 
he delivereth them out of their distress. 

He maketh the storm to cease, so that the waves 
thereof are still. 

Then are they glad, because they are at rest ; and 
so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would 
be. 

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for 
his goodness ; and declare the wonders that he doeth 
for the children of men I 

That they would exalt him also in the congrega- 
tion of the people ; and praise him in the seat of the 
elders ! 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to 
the Holy Ghost ; 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever 
shall be, world without end. Amen. 

We established morning and evening prayers in 
the i,abin, as well as in the steerage; where, at the 
commencement of the voyage the coloured people 
were; in these we enjoyed the consolations of the 
religion we profess. 

We had all recovered from sea-sickness, and 
having arrived within the Tropics, where the 
weather was fine and the wind favourable, our 
passage was more agreeable. Nothing uncommon 
occurred during the remainder of our voyage. But a 
continuation of the mercies of our heavenly Father 
were daily bestowed upon us. On the morning of 
the 8th of March, we had a distant view of the 
mountains of Sierra Leone, which was really anima- 
ting to us after crossing the Atlantic. We 'felt our- 
selves approaching towards that much injured coun^ 







try, where we expected to labour, and to suffer many 
and great afflictions : We were cheered with the // 
hope, that through the assistance of Divine grace, wc 
should be in a greater or less degree, useful among 
the degraded children of Africa. The wind was 
fair but rather light, as is not uncommon in the dry 
season. We soon hove in sight of Cape Sierra Le- 
one, when we discovered for the first time, several 
native canoes approaching toward us. These excit- 
ed our curiosity. They were manned by the native 
Kroomen, in a state of nudity or nearly so : when I 
speak of naked people, it may be always understood 
that they wear a cloth about their loins, and that the 
men generally wear hats. These hats are manufac- 
tured out of a kind of grass. The Chiefs and head 
men often wear common English hats. 

We soon discovered a fine English barge ap- 
proaching us, rowed by natives. In this were the 
harbour master, George Macaulay and S. Easton, 
Esquires, (of the house of the honourable K. Macau- 
lay) who very politely gave us much interesting in- 
formation, relative to our American blacks at Sher- 
bro. As we approached near the harbour they gave 
the \merican agents a friendly invitation to go on 
shore in the barge, and take lodgings at their house. 
As the principal Agent concluded to remain on 
loard, Mrs. Bacon and myself thought proper not 
to slight their politeness, our accommodations in the 
Lrig being somewhat circumscribed, and the transi- 
tion from Norfolk, where the cold was excessive, to 
Sierra Leone, where the degrees of heat were at 
noon day from 85 to 87 1-2 in the shade, making a 
visit to land desirable. Moreover the services of all 
the agents were not required to attend to the wants 
of the people. We accordingly went on shore, where 
Ave were very politely and hospitably entertained for 
several days. 

The Agents of the United States together with 
those of the Society soon had an interview with the 
Rev. Daniel Coker, by whom we learnt the condi- 



6 

tion of the American settlers at Sherbro. He inform- 
ed us that the mortality, although severely felt in the 
loss of our valuable agents, and Mr. Townsend, 
commandant of the UniteS States schooner Augusta, 
together with six of his men, and a boy, was not so 
great as at first reported. The whole number of 
blacks,who died did not exceed twenty-three,out of the 
eighty-eight, sent out in the ship Elizabeth. Several 
of these deaths were not caused by the prevailing 
fever. The actual number of blacks who died with 
fever did not exceed eighteen or nineteen, all of 
whom died at Kizzell's place. Although very many 
of the settlers were extremely ill when they left Kiz- 
zell's place, and removed to Yonie, a more healthy 
part of Sherbro Island, and the time of their remo- 
val was the month of August, in the midst of the rai- 
ny season, still no deaths by fever occurred at Yonie; 
but on the contrary a general recovery took place; 
notwithstanding, there was no medical aid, the 
sickness at KizzelFs place was evidently in a 
great degree, owing to local causes; the water alone 
is said to be sufficiently bad to create malignant dis- 
orders, though, Kizzell was base enough to assert 
that it contained peculiar qualities highly conducive to 
health. That, and other false assertions, induced 
the former agents to receive his offer of friendship; 
pretending as he did to unbounded influence among 
the native chiefs; an ardent desire to further the be- 
nevolent objects of our government and the society; 
to benefit America; to meliorate the conditions of the 
African race; and propagate the glorious Gospel of 
GOD in a heathen land. 

After making other necessary inquiries of Mr. 
Coker, and of those gentlemen in Sierra Leone, with 
whom we were most conversant; also of some of the 
American blacks who went out with Paul Cuffee, and 
of Nathaniel Peck, who accompanied the first expe- 
dition; we were fully satisfied that Mr. Coker had 
managed the business of the expedition, after the de 



cease of the former agents in as judicious a manner 
as the circumstances of the case would admit. 

We lost no time after our arrival, in communi- 
cating with the acting governor, his Honour John 
Grant, upon the subject of our mission. 

The American agents received a polite invitation 
to breakfast with him at the Government House on 
Saturday morning, the 10th of March. We there met 
his Excellency, together with his Honourable Coun- 
cil, after partaking of a sumptuous breakfast of great 
variety, served up in elegant style. 

The several benevolent objects of our govern- 
ment, and those of the society were fully explained; 
and an open and candid exposition of our instruc- 
tions made after this friendly interview; his Excel- 
lency gave us a very polite invitation to dine at the 
Government house, on Tuesday the 13th of March; 
which we did accordingly, and partook of an elegant 
dinner, served up in much splendour. There were 
at table a number of the principle gentlemen, officers 
of the Colonial Government, Spanish Commission- 
ers, English Missionaries, and several Ladies. 

The very friendly disposition which the Colo- 
nial authorities manifested towards the objects of our 
Mission, may be seen by a reference to the Sierra 
Leone Gazette. (See Appendix.) 

A meeting of all the agents, together with Mr. 
Coker took place, when it was unanimously agreed 
to relinquish the idea of making any further attempt 
to negociate for lands in the Sherbro country; and 
that two of the agents should cause the U. S. Schoo- 
ner Augusta, which was lying at anchor in the har- 
bour at Sierra Leone, to undergo some slight repairs 
for the purpose of exploring the coast in search of 
a suitable site for an American settlement ; more- 
over, it was resolved that no time should be lost, as 
we were taught by our instructions to regard the ac- 
quisition of lands for a settlement, as a matter of pri 
mary importance. 



8 

Having a discretion on this subject, it was deter- 
mined after advising with the English missionaries 
and agents at Sierra Leone, that the Rev. Mr. 
Andrus and myself should be deputed to the ser- 
vice of exploring the coast, and entering into 
negociations with the native Chiefs. At the same 
time it was arranged that Messrs. Winn and Wilt^ 
berger should disembark the people and goods from 
the Nautilus, after a suitable place for their tempora- 
ry location should be determined upon; by, and with 
the consent of the Colonial authorities, who had po- 
litely proffered to provide such place, as soon as it could 
be selected. It was also agreed that Messrs. Winn 
and Wiltberger, should attend to the business at 
Sherbro — supply the wants of the people there, or 
remove them as should be found most expedient; so 
that as nearly as possible an equal partition of du- 
ties, was made. 

A suitable place was found about two weeks af- 
ter Mr. Andrus and myself had sailed on our ha- 
zardous excursion. We had been taught to expect the 
arrival of the Aligator, which was to accompany us. 
But it was not deemed advisable to wait, but to pro- 
ceed immediately to execute that part of our instruc- 
tions, which directed us to explore the coast; in this 
determination we were influenced by the following 
reasons: — 

1. The assistance of all the agents was not ne- 
cessary, to administer to the wants of the pe *ple: 
circumstanced as they must be during their continu- 
ance at Sierra Leone, and some of us unless employ- 
ed in obtaining the lands, must have remained al- 
most or quite unoccupied. 

%. The period of the arrival of the Aligator ou 
the coast was entirely uncertain. But little more 
thau six weeks remained before the rains. 

The business of exploring therefore must be com 
menced immediately, or not completed until the rainy 
season; and as the event showed, had we waited for 



the arrival of the Alligator, it could not have been 
began before the commencement of the rains. 

3. But our principal reason for embarking in the 
business immediately, was the certainty that the pre- 
sence of an armed force would hinder rather than 
assist our negotiations with the natives. In this 
opinion we were confirmed by the unanimous judg- 
ment of all our English friends, consulted on the sub- 
ject. It will be seen by a reference to dates, that we 
had concluded our contract for the lands, and return- 
ed to Sierra Leone, two weeks or more before the 
arrival of the Aligator. 

The vessel in which we were to sail, not being- 
ready, and some information concerning our route 
being necessary, Mr. Andrus and myself visited 
the Rev. Mr. Johnson, a minister of the Church 
Missionary Society, at Freetown. We found him 
just recovering from ill health. He gave us a polite 
invitation to visit Regentstown, and appointed Sat- 
urday the 17th of March; on that day he furnished 
us with horses, and accompanied us with his Lady 
and several other Missionaries. Mrs. Bacon not be- 
ing accustomed to ride on horseback, was carried in 
a palanquin, by some of the captured Africans. At 
about 7 o'clock, A. M. we left Freetown, and 
arrived at Gloucestertown about 9 or 10 o'clock, 
where we took some refreshment with the Rev. Mr. 
Daring. Under his care is a fine flourishing town of 
captured negroes; in which have been erected and 
are nearly finished, alarge stone church, a commodious 
parsonage house, anil a school house. [See Appendix.]] 

At about 1 o'clock, P. M. we arrived at Regents- 
town. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had been at Free- 
town, where Mr. J. was sick several weeks; on our 
arrival great numbers of his people came to shake 
hands with him, and inquired affectionately after his 
health; even the expression of every countenance 
bore strong testimony of their ardent love for him, 
and the joy which filled their hearts on his recovery 
from sickness and safe return to his flock. The peo- 



o 






10 

pie generally came, and shook hands with us, and 
said on seeing Mrs. Bacon, "another white Mama 
come! another white Mama come!" 

We had previously been informed by Mr. John- 
son of a Missionary tour, performed by Mr. Cates, 
an English missionary from Sierra Leone, in an over 
land journey to Grand Bassa, a distance of about 
400 miles, accompanied by William Yamba and 
William Davis, native missionaries. 

We had also been advised to select the Bassa coun- 
try as the most eligible for the location of our settle- 
ment: the natives having manifested not only a wil- 
lingness, but an ardent desire to receive instructions, 
and the King and head men having entered into a 
covenant with Mr. Cates to receive and protect any 
Missionaries which should be sent from Sierra Le- 
one. We had moreover had an interview with Tam- 
ba and Davis on the subject, and came to a conclusion 
to explore the coast to the southward and eastward. 
Mr. Johnson having politely proposed that Tamba 
and Davis should accompany us as interpreters. These 
men were able to speak all the different languages of 
the tribes as far as the Bassa Country. 

At six o'clock on the evening of our arrival, the 
bell at the church rang for Divine service: The peo- 
ple were immediately seen walking from different 
parts of the town; the parsonage house being so situa- 
ted that there is a fair view of almost the whole set- 
tlement, and it was delightful to observe the eager- 
ness which people manifested to hear the w T ord of 
GOD. A prayer meeting was held by the commu 
nicants after the usual evening prayers, it being ex- 
pected that the LORD's supper would be celebrated 
the next day. 

Sunday Morning the 18th of March, 1821, at six 
o'clock, the bell rang for morning prayers, when the 
church was again filled. O! how pleasing to behold hun- 
dreds of those who were once wretched inmates of the 
holds of slave ships, assembled in the house of GOD. 
on the morning of that holy day on which our h\p^ 



11 

sed Saviour rose from the dead and ascended up to 
heaven! With a 100 copies of the Holy Bible spread 
open before their black faces, their eyes were fixed 
intently on the words of the lesson which their godly 
pastor was reading. Almost all of Mr. Johnson's peo- 
ple, who can read the blessed Book, are supplied 
with Bibles, from that best of institutions the Brit- 
ish and Foreign Bible Society. 'Surely Christians 
ought to feel themselves encouraged in the support 
of missions, when such cheering fruits present them- 
selves to view. 

At 10 o'clock the bell again rang, though the 
church was nearly filled before that hour ; the 
members of the well regulated schools which pas- 
sed in review before the Parsonage in regular suc- 
cession, were all clad in clean decent apparel. 
When we arrived at the Church, there were 
no vacant seats to be seen. The greatest atten- 
tion was paid during Divine service. " Indeed 
I witnessed a Christian congregation in a heathen 
land — a people fearing (rod and working righteous- 
ness. The tear of godly sorrow rolled down many 
a coloured cheek, and showed the contrition of a 
heart that felt its own vileness." There were three 
couple married, and one child baptized. After the 
sermon, Mr. Johnson, with the assistance of bro- 
ther Andrus, administered! the communion of the 
body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ to nearly 
four hundred communicants. This indeed was a 
feast of fat things to my soul. 

At 3 o'clock, P. M. the church was again filled, 
and the most devout attention was paid to the read- 
ing and hearing of the Word. It seemed that the 
whole congregation were eager to catch every word 
which fell from the Pastor's lips. 

Again before the ringing of the bell, at six o'clock 
in the evening, the people were seen from the distant 
parts of the town, leaving their homes and retracing 
their steps back toward the House of GOD, which 
was builded with their own hands, and illuminated 
with^palm oil. 



There we again united in praising that GOD who 
hath wrought such wonderful things even among the 
mountains of Sierra Leone, where the praises of Je- 
hovah resound, not only from his Holy Sanctuary, 
but from the humble mud-walled cottage — from the 
tongues of those children of Africa, who have been 
taken by the avaricious slave-trader, dragged from 
parents,, separated* from brother and sister, and per- 
haps from wife, or husband, bound in chains, hurried 
on board the slave ship, crowded in a space not ex- 
ceeding their length and breadth, nor even allowed to 
breathe the vital air. These persons after being re-cap- 
tured by order of the British government, have been 
put under the charge of a faithful Minister of the 
Gospel, whose labours have been accompanied by 
the Holy Spirit. These are the mighty works of 
God. [For a further description of Regentstown, 
see Appendix.] 

Monday morning the 19th of March, 18&1, at 
six o'clock prayers again in Church. After break- 
fast it was concluded that it was expedient for Mrs. 
Bacon to remain in Mr. Johnson's family during my 
absence with Mr. Andrus exploring the coast. Al- 
though painful to the flesh, yet duty required it, and 
my dear wife readily submitted after uniting with 
good Mr. Johnson, in commendiug us to God in so- 
lemn prayer. 

We left Regentstown and arrived at Gloucester, 
where we took some refreshment with the Rev. Mr. 
During, and arrived at Freetown about 10. We 
found that the schooner Augusta was still undergo- 
ing repairs. We commenced making the necessary 
preparations for our departure. Contracted with 
William Martin, a yellow man, to navigate the ves- 
sel, and John Bean as mate — Moses Turner, 3 na- 
tive sailors and 3 Krooraen. 

Wednesday evening the 21st of March, having 
been much engaged in making preparations, 1 had 
not time to write to my fiiend; and expecting not 
to return until after the sailing of the brig Nautilus^ 



13 

(although the disembarkation had not yet com* 
menced,) I wrote a letter approving of the judicious 
management of the Rev. Daniel Coker, in con- 
ducting the affairs of the first expedition after the 
decease of the former agents, and recommending 
him to the friendly notice of the Board of Managers 
of the American Society, for colonizing the free peo- 
ple of colour. This letter was signed by J. B. 
Winn, J. R. Andrus, C. Wiltberger, jr. and E. 
Bacon, agents. 

Thursday Morning, the 22d of March. — The 
Schooner is expected to be ready to-day; we are pre- 
paring for our departure, and hope to sail this eve- 
ning. 

At 1 o'clock we are much fatigued; and have 
much trouble in getting the Captain and Crew on 
board, some of them after receiving a months advance 
pay, are spending their time in dissipation; and in- 
deed, dispatch of business is not common in Africa. 
At 3 o'clock, P. M. all hands are on board, some of 
the sailors intoxicated; the Captain appears to make 
unnecessary delays, and I fear we shall have trouble 
with him. But I expected to find trouble in Africa. 
At length we set sail. After doubling the Cape, we 
stood out to sea, far enough to clear all the head 
lands and islands of the coast; and then proceeding 
coast wise, we made Cape Mount, about 250 miles 
distant from Sierra Leone, on the S7ttu This part 
of the coast we had previously learned to be in the 
occupancy of King Peter, one of the most powerful 
and warlike Chiefs of West Africa, and more deeply 
engaged in the Slave trade than any of his neigh- 
bours. The known hostility of his views to the ob- 
jects of the American Government and Society, dis- 
suaded us from incurring any loss of time or expense 
in procuring an interview with him. We according- 
ly proceeded onward to the mouth of the Mesurado 
River, about 50 miles south of Cape Mount, where 
• we came to anchor the next day, before two small 
islands, owned by John Mills, a yellow man, having 



14 

an English education, and Baha, a black and native 
African. Both of these men are slave dealers, and 
it is supposed that their Islands are mere slave mar- 
kets. Every appearance went to justify this suspi- 
cion. The neighbourhood of Cape Messurado hav- 
ing been indicated as a part of the coast favourable 
to our purpose, we were induced to make the most 
particular inquiry and observations in our power, re- 
lative to the advantages and disadvantages that 
would attend a settlement here. 

The appearance of this part of the left bank of 
the Mesurado River which terminates in the Cape of 
the same name is sufficiently elevated, and inviting. 
The natural growth is luxuriant and abundant; many 
of the trees attain to a large size, and present every 
indication of a strong and fertile soil. But in the 
interior, and on the right bank of the river, the land 
is nearly as low as in the vicinity of Sherbro, and 
covered with a small growth of osiers and man- 
groves. A bar obstructs the entrance of the River, 
on which we were informed was less than two fa- 
thoms water at high tides; and which must be passed 
before a secure anchorage can be obtained. 

The head man is a dependant of King Peter, 
aud has the same name. We attempted to obtain 
a palaver with him, and for this purpose went on 
shore with a present. He was not ignorant of the 
object of our visit, and sent by a messenger declin- 
ing an interview and refusing to receive our pre- 
sent, though we had reason to believe that if we had 
been mere missionaries, he would have received us 
readily. While we were at anchor, a schooner un- 
der French colours appeared, laying off and ap- 
parently waiting for an opportunity to come in and 
receive a cargo of slaves. We saw a great number 
of young Africans, who appeared as if intended for 
that vessel. 

On the evening of the 29th, we got under way, 
and following the direction of the coast, which here 4 
stretches southeasterly, we had the prospect of a 



id 

delightful country, the whole distance to St. Johu ? s 
river. The coast presents a sandy beach; in the 
whole of this extent, the country is gently elevated 
from the very coast, and has a surface agreeably di- 
versified with moderate inequalities. Most of the 
land visible from the sea, either has been, or now 
is, in a state of cultivation. The soil is prolific in 
the most substantial articles of food produced in 
tropical countries. The neglected parts of the land 
are covered with a thick growth of brush wood. 
The mountains in the interior, are here about twen- 
ty or thirty miles from the sea, stretching in the di- 
rection of the coast, and come more distinctly into 
view, than at the northward of the Cape. Their 
elevation must be considerable. On the evening of 
the 31st, we w r ere becalmed and obliged to anchor, 
opposite the mouth of the St. John's river, at the 
distance of between two and three leagues. This 
river is nearly a league over at the mouth. About 
six leagues from the sea, it is one mile wide, and 
has in no part of the main channel, less than nine 
feet water. Salt water extends but six or eight 
miles from the sea; there is a rapid at six leauges 
distance from the mouth of the river, which is how- 
ever passable with canoes. Above, the batteaux 
navigation extends to a great distance in the inte- 
rior. Five miles to the eastward of the mouth of 
the St. John's, and discharging its waters into the 
same bay, is the Grand Bassa River, small in com- 
parison with the St. John's, and very shoal at the 
bar — but of considerable length and navigable for 
light batteaux, a number of leagues. 

On the first of April, we brought the schooner to 
anchor off the mouth of the latter river, at the dis- 
tance of three fourths of a mile. We were soon sur- 
rounded with canoes, which brought on board a 
large number of natives. By one of them we dis- 
patched a small present to the King. This Prince's 
name is Jack Ben, lately advanced to the supreme 
power, from the rank of principal Head Man, in 



16 

consequence of the death of King John, which oc- 
curred about four months before our visit. 

Monday Morning, April 2d, 1821, Grand Bassa— * 
We were visited by 10 or 15 native canoes, bring- 
ing from two to five men each, who came to trade; 
their articles were fowls, fish, oysters, eggs, palm 
oil ami palm wine, cassada, yams, plantains, banna- 
nas, limes and pine apples, for which they wanted 
in return tobacco, pipes, beads, &c. 

Fowls are sold for one leaf of tobacco or one 
pipe each; oysters are very large and fine, half a 
pound of tobacco will buy one hundred; they are 
larger than the Bluepoint oysters. 

Mr. Andrus and myself went on shore in our 
boat, below the mouth of Grand Bassa, to take a 
view of the point of land which projects out into the 
sea. A Fort, erected on this point, would complete- 
ly command the whole Harbour. After visiting the 
point it was necessary to cross the Grand Bassa a 
short distance above its mouth as the surf was tur- 
bulent below the Bar. Our conductor was a Kroo- 
man, by the name of Bottle Beer. When we came 
to the left bank of the river, we saw no canoe or 
other means of crossing over as we thought; but Bot- 
tle Beer proposed to carry us over, and placed him- 
self in a suitable position, and told one of us to sit 
upon his shoulders, when Brother Andrus seated 
himself with one leg over each shoulder, then Bot- 
tle Beer walked deliberately through the river, car- 
rying his burden safe to the otljer bank, and return- 
ed back and proposed to take me. I told him I was 
so fat and heavy that he would let me fall into the 
water, he put his hands upon his arms and legs and 
said, "Me strong, me carry you, Daddy." At length 
I seated myself likewise upon Bottle Beer, and 
though he was not as heavy a person as myself, he 
carried me safe over without wetting me; it was ne 
cessary, however, that I should hold my feet up, as 
the water was about half a fathom deep. After this 
wc walked about 300 yards, to Bottle Beer's towu, a 



17 

little cluster of cottages inhabited by Kroomen, of 
which B. B. is Headman; several of these people can 
talk broken English; the King placed B. B. at this 
town as a factor or a harbour master, as it is a place 
for vessels to water. The population is perhaps from 
60 to 100; we were conducted to the palaver- house, 
where the people soon gathered together, and shook 
hands with us. After remaining a short time, we 
were conducted to another town (so called) where 
the people were boiling sea-water for salt, as they 
do at all the towns near the beach; this is called 
Salt-town, through this we passed to Jumbotown, 
which is about one mile from Bottle Beer's town, 
and much larger. 

In Jumbotown there are from 30 to 40 houses, 
and several hundred people. There is also a large 
Palaver-House, to which we were conducted. There 
we were accosted by Jumbo, the Headman, and 
the natives, and shook hands with them. The land 
is prolific beyond description; the people have plen- 
ty of peas, beans, &c. Indian corn grows luxuriant- 
ly and is in the ear. Indeed the country is beauti- 
fully variegated, and the water is good and plenty. 

About 1 o'clock, P. M. we returned back to our 
boat, which was at B. B. town. After the Boat was? 
in readiness, one of the Kroomen took me in his arms 
and carried me above the surf to the Boat, and like- 
wise Mr. Andrus, so that we were not wet; and all 
this kindness without being solicited. Indeed they 
are very kind and hospitable; they gave us water 
to drink, and palm wine, and made us welcome to 
such as they had. As is customary, they begged 
for tobacco, of which we gave a small quantity to the 
Headmen, who always distribute among the peo- 

After returning on board the schooner, we dined 
on fish and oysters sumptuously. We then went in 
our boat over the Bar, into the mouth of the St. John's 
River, about four miles distance from the Schooner, 
when we sounded on the Bar, and found not less 

3 



lb 

than nine feet water at ebb-tide. The River is about 
three miles wide at the Bar; there is plenty of water 
and good anchorage; vessels of two or three hundred 
tons burthen, may lie perfectly safe. It being near- 
ly dark, and the tide beginning to make, which was 
against our returning in the Boat over the Bar, it was 
thought most prudent for Mr. Andrus and myself to 
go on shore and return by land to Jumbotown, which 
we did accordingly. There was no path on the shore, 
but the sand beach, which was fatiguing, as the sand 
was so loose that a great part of the way our shoes 
would sink two or three inches every step. More- 
over, being exposed to the night air, is thought in 
Africa to be dangerous to foreigners; however, we 
arrived at Jumbotown about 8 o'clock, and waited 
for our Boat, which soon came. The natives again 
carried us through the surf, and we returned on board 
much fatigued, having been in a profuse perspiration 
and exposed to night air, until 9 o'clock. I was ve- 
ry weary. After having taken some refreshments, 
we had prayers and retired to rest. Heard nothing 
from the King, the Krooman not having returned, 

Tuesday, April 3d, 1831 — This morning Bro* 
ther Andrus was not in very good health, and did 
not go on shore, but took medicine. We were again 
visited by natives, with a great variety of fruit, ve* 
getables, fowls, fish, &c. &c. 

We this day sent another message to the King, 
At 10 o'clock I went on shore, in company with 
Tamba and Davis, and walked about one mile into 
the country, where 1 found the laud remarkably 
good. We passed through four or five towns, as they 
called them, the houses as in other towns appear at 
a distant view more like the same number of stacks 
of straw or hay, as they are covered with a kind of 
grass. Davis and Tamba improve every opportuni- 
ty to talk with their country people upon the subject 
of our Mission. Davis saw some of the Headmen 
to day, who appeared to be suspicious that we had 
some unfriendly object in view; but as he can speak 



19 

their language fluently, he is endeavouring to re- 
move their doubts. 

Returned on board with not only my locks but 
my flannels drenched with perspiration; even while 
I am writing, if my handkerchief were not in my 
hand to wipe it from my face, I should be compelled 
to discontinue. No prospect as yet of se.eing the 
King. I fear that we shall not succeed in getting 
land in Bassa. 

This evening Brother Andrus's health is better* 
We commended ourselves and the cause in which 
we are engaged to GOD, who alone can accomplish 
all things, according to his purpose; and retired to 
rest. 

Wednesday Morning, April 4th, 1821. — At six 
o'clock, according to our arrangements made yester- 
day, we started iu our Boat, with four Boatmen and 
our Interpreters, making eight of us; and five natives, 
two of which were Headmen, in two of their ca- 
noes. We ascended the River St. John to the first 
Island. The banks of the River are rather low, but 
suitable for cultivation. This Island was formerly 
occupied by a slave factor; but since the English and 
American cruizers have annoyed them, the traders 
have abandoned this and all the other Islands, In 
this River their gardens are to be seen; in them is 
a variety of fruit. We breakfasted here upon some 
smoked beef and bread, which we brought from the 
vessel. Thence we proceeded on to an other Island, 
to which Davis said he was brought, and on which 
he was sold to an American Slave Factor. 

It was with great difficulty that we prevailed on 
the natives and our boat's crew to proceed any fur- 
ther, because they said, "White Man never live 
above that place." It appeared that they doubted 
the efficacy of their gregres, which they never fail to 
wear when exposed to danger. We passed two 
other Islands, formerly occupied by the same kind of 
Desperadoes. We still proceeded onward until we 
came to Rapids, which are from 15 to £0 miles from. 



20 

its mouth. The land as we ascend the river becomes 
more elevated, with a fine growth of timber, admi- 
rably situated for settlements. We saw several 
small towns and farms, where rice and vegetables 
are cultivated. Davis read the 20th Chapter of Exo- 
dus, and spoke to the people upon the state of their 
souls; in one of those towns, people were very at- 
tentive, their reply to him after he had ceased speak- 
ing was, "Very well, we hear you, all very good 
what you say, we think 'bout it, we no sabby white 
man fash, we sabby Gregre." 

We saw very fine goats and sheep, and poultry. 
All the people wear gregres or charms; some of these 
are brass rings which they wear around their ancles 
and wrists, one is a feather tied with a string around 
their neck, and what they consider more valuable, 
is. the horn of a goat or a sheep, which the Dibble- 
man (as they say) prepares by filling it with a kind 
of glutinous substance, intermixed with pulverized 
charcoal, or black sand — some wear a little ball of 
clay tied up in a piece of white muslin. 

At 3 o'clock, we put our company in motion on 
our return. At 7 o'clock, the boat arrived at the 
mouth of the river, and before crossing the bar, 
Brother A., myself, Tomba and Davis, went on 
shore, where we had a most fatigueing walk down 
the beach to Jumbo town; our boat not being able 
to go over the bar before daylight, a9 the tide did 
not favour; therefore we had no boat in which we 
dare venture, as the native canoes were small and 
unsafe for us. Having been twelve hours exposed 
to the scorching rays of the sun, and having walked 
four miles in the damp of the evening, with 
our clothes drenched iu perspiration and being oblig- 
ed to lay down supperless upon a floor composed of 
bamboo sticks, without any covering, but our wet 
garments — having no door to our cottage and several 
huudrcd natives within twenty yards, drumming 
and dancing, until one or two o'clock in the morn- 
ing, it could not be expected that we should over 



sleep ourselves. Indeed there were times that the 
secret ejaculations of the heart; ascended up to the 
throne of the Heavenly Grace, for grace to help in 
that hour of need. Nor was the ear of Jehovah 
heavy, that it could not hear; nor his Almighty 
arm shortened, that it could not save; for we found 
ready help through our Lord Jesus Christ, strength- 
ening us. 

Thursday Morning, April 5th, 1821. We arose 
and felt somewhat the worse for our hard lodging, 
after our extreme exposure in that climate, in which 
it is said, foreigners are subject to fevers and agues; 
our boat came to the beach for us, and we went on 
board the schooner. Having heard nothing from 
the King, we concluded to send Davis with one of 
the Headmen, to seek his Majesty. Davis was dis- 
patched with a present. We this day learned from 
a Headman, that we could have land, but that we 
must go to the King's town to-morrow. 

We admired the friendly disposition of the in 
habitants, but discovered their fears, that we were 
connected with some ship of war. After commend 
ing ourselves to God, we retired to rest. 

Friday Morning, April 6th, 1831. We went 
on shore, and went to the King's town, but could 
not see him; it was said that he was not at home. 
The distance is from two and a half to three miles: 
the land is most excellent, elevated and dry; we saw 
very fine rice fields: this town was recently built 
the houses are much better than any I have hitherto 
seen in the Bassa Country. 

We returned back to the schooner, without 
seeing Davis, and sent Tamba to call him, but he 
remained. We are full of doubts and fears about 
obtaining a palaver with the King. 

Saturday, April 7th, 1821. This day Tamba 
and Davis returned; it appears they have been la- 
bouring to convince the Headmen, that we have not 
come with any hostile intention. O Lord help us: 
it* vain is the help of man. 



m 






\ Sunday, April 8th, 1821. Brother A , and 

Davis, went to old King John's town, for the pur- 
pose of holding a meeting. Returned in the even- 
ing, and said they had seen King Ben, and that he 
would meet us at Jumba town in palaver, the next 
morning. 

They saw the body of King John, who had been 
dead four moons, yet not buried; he was laid in state 
in a palaver-house, dressed in a fine robe, with a 
pair of new English boots on Uie feet: a brisk fire 
is kept burning in the room. His grave is dug which 
is right feet square, for the purpose of admitting 
the body and the form upon which it lies, together 
with bullocks, goats, sheep, tobacco and pipes, as 
sacrifices! O Lord when shall these superstitions 
cease. 

Monday, April 9th, 1821. This morning the 
sea very rough. At 11 o'clock, we went on shore, 
with a present to the King, (as it is impossible to get 
a palaver with the authorities of the country, with- 
out a respectable present " to pay service" to the 
King, his princess and his Headmen,) we met his 
Majesty, King Jack Ben of Grand Bassa, together 
with several of his Headmen in Jumbotown, in the 
Palaver House, with a large concourse of peo~ 
pie. After shaking hands with them, we laid 
down our present, which consisted of one gun, 
some powder, tobacco, pipes, beads, §*c. His Ma- 
jesty said in broken English, "me tanke you," aud 
caused the articles to be removed, and placed un- 
der the care of a sentinel, so that his people might 
not get them before he had divided them equally, as 
is their custom. This division takes place, that all 
may " taste of the good things," and a contract is 
made: all who have partaken of the present, are 
pledged to fulfil on their part. 

The King asked us what we wanted, although 
he could not have been ignorant of our wishes. We 
stated our object to be " to get land for the black 
people in America, to come and sU down upon, [trt 



n 

occupy.'] We told him that the people were very 
many and required much territory; that a few 
white men only would come along* to assist and 
take care of them; that we should make a town 
where ships would come and trade with cloth, and 
guns* and beads, and knives, and tobacco, and pipes, 
and take in return, their ivory, and palm oil, and 
rice, and every other thing growing in the fields; that 
they would not then need to sell any more people, 
but might learn to> cultivate the ground and make 
other things to sell for whatever they wanted" 

We at last succeeded in making a favourable 
impression on their minds; and convincing, them 
that we had no unfriendly motive in visiting Bsssa. 
The palaver was adjourned until the next day. 
It indeed requires much patience to deal with these 
child ten of the forest. We returned on board wea- 
ry and faint: after partaking of some refreshment 
and having implored the Diviue Blessing of Him 
who has promised to give to his Son the Heathen 
for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the 
earth for his possession, retired to rest. 

Tuesday, April 10th, 1821.— This day is expect- 
ed to be a day of importance, as the palaver vi ill be 
much larger, and a certain condition will be discus- 
ed, which they have urged irom the beginning; 
therefore, we look earnestly for Divine assistance, 
A small present will be necessary as there will be 
more Head Men than at any former palaver. At 
10 o'clock we were convened. The present was 
placed before the King, and the usual ceremonies 
were performed. The King rose up and spoke to 
the case in the Bassa language, vith great energy; 
his naked arm presented to view from within his 
robes, which were made of the country manufactur- 
ed cloth, something in the form of Clerical robes. 
After him, a Krooman by the name of Brown, rose 
and spoke with much spirit; his speech was inter- 
preted by Yamba, the substance of it was that we 
vere emissaries from some slave ship in the neigh- 



a* 

bourhood, and that we were not friends to them; on 
which the King and his Council withdrew to the 
shade of a large silk cotton tree, in conclave, for the 
space of SO or 30 minutes. They then returned and 
proceeded in discussing the condition strenuously 
urged from the beginning by the King, as the basis 
on which alone he could accede to our wishes in re- 
lation to the lands. We had stated, that we came 
not with any hostile intentions, and that the charac- 
ter of the settlement was to be unwarlike and agri- 
cultural. They demanded of us a positive stipula- 
tion, to make book, as they term it, that the settlers 
and agents should act in consistency with this 
character, and in no way assist the armed ships 
sent to the coast to suppress the slave trade, by 
communicating to them any information that might 
prove injurious to the Bassa people. "We represent- 
ed to them the advantages which would attend their 
relinquishing the trade altogether; stating that in a 
very short time it must cease, as so many ships of 
war would be sent to the coast, as to catch every 
slave vessel, and put an end to the exportation of the 
people; still they insisted on the condition; and at 
the breaking up of the palaver, told us we should have 
the lands, provided we agreed to insert the condition iu 
the contract, [book.] They directed us to explore the 
country, and(as the King said, "lookem straight," lay- 
ing down his palavar brush in a straight position,) 
and fix upon the tract best adapted to our purpose, 
at the same time indicating the quarter where those 
lands lay, which they could best afford to spare. We 
returned onboard che schooner somewhat encouraged 
but still we felt dissatisfied with the condition upon 
which they insisted; however, considering that it 
could have no practical operation, inasmuch as, if, 
while in our infant state, we were to show a dispo- 
sition to use any other means than persuasion in 
urging them to abandon the traffic in slaves, we 
should incur their displeasure, and cause the destruc- 
tion of the whole of our expectations of future sue- 



£5 

oess, we were tolerably content. After asking the 
merciful aid of Divine Grace, we retired to test. 

Wednesday, April 11th, i82l. — This day went 
on shore, when it began to rain. There has been a 
little rain every day for six or seven days past. It 
appears that the rains are setting in. The King sent 
a servant to us, with a message informing us that he 
would be ready to receive us, after the rains had 
ceased. We arrived at the King's town. We had 
a short palaver, after ascertaining that we could not 
obtain land upon any better terms. It is, however, 
probable, that at no distant period the natives may 
be induced to abandon the slave trade altogether, 
without any coercive measures being used, as they 
will see other sources of trade present themselves to 
view. 

The King directed some of his Headmen to ac- 
company us, to look at the country. We walked in 
various directions, and returned to the Schooner, 
having "previously explored the St. John's River as 
far as the Rapids, and viewed the country in vari- 
ous directions. We fully determined upon the ter- 
ritory which would be suitable for our purpose. We 
are more and more pleased with the appearance of 
the country and its inhabitants. The King took one 
of his boys by the hand, who was about 13 or 14 
years of age, and gave him to us to learn Book. 
We took him on board, and put a pair of domestic 
pantaloons upon him, which pleased him very much. 

Thursday, April 12, 1821. — This morning the 
King sent two of his Headmen on board to go with 
us and fix upon a place to build our town. We 
sent back a message that we had fixed upon the 
place, and that we were ready to meet him in pala- 
ver, at any time he should appoint, at Juinbotown. 
He did not send us his answer until evening, when 
two of his Headmen arrived with a present from 
his sable Majesty, which consisted of a fine fat 
goat. His answer was that he would meet us at 



£6 

8 o'clock the next morning at Jumbotown, in grand 
palaver. We are very anxious to know the final 
result. O Lord! further us with thy most gracious 
aid. 

Friday, April 13th, 18&1. — We met in palaver; 
there were more Headmen and Princes, as well as 
people, than at any time previous. Our present, of 
course, was much more valuable than before. We 
thanked the King for his present, and he returned 
the same civility for our presents. These people be- 
ing ignorant of extent of territory, or of distances by 
measurement, we directed our Interpreters to tell 
them that we wanted a large tract of land, and they 
described it thus: — Beginning at a certain tree on 
the beach near Jumbotown, running due East by 
Compass to the top of Saddle Mountain, or two or 
three days walk, either of which would be a distance 
of from 40 to 60 miles — from thence Northwardly 
to St. John's River, a distance of perhaps from 50 
to.yo miles; from thence down the St. John's River 
to its mouth; from thence along the sand beach to 
the aforesaid tree near Jumbotown, inclusive — sup- 
posed to be 30 or 40 miles square of territory. — 
To our having this tract, they readily agreed, and 
directed their names to be set to the instrument, 
the conditions before mentioned being included. 
They all took hold of the pen and made their 
marks; then they cried aloud, "Palaver set! Pa- 
laver set!" 

The agent of the Colonization Society, enga- 
ged in behalf of said Society, to give certain stipu- 
lated articles annually, which will not cost more 
than 300 Dollars. Pledges of mutual friendship 
were interchanged, whereby each party agreed to 
cultivate peace and harmony, and not to make war 
or trouble each other. 

Thus we at last succeeded in convincing them 
that we were their friends. This, we were assured 
we could not have done, had it not been for the 



S7 

presence of Davis, and the entire absence' of any 
display of military or naval force. We regard it 
as a most favourable providence that the Aligator 
did not bring or accompany us to the Bassa, and that 
no naval officer was present at the negotiations. 

The King was much pleased at seeing his son 
with trowsers on, the people said, "He gentleman all 
one white man:" the King proposed to give us an 
elder son in lieu of the other as he said if the youn- 
ger, went away, his "Mama make palaver on me." 
We accepted his proposition, took the elder on board, 
put a suit of clothes on him, and gave him the name 
of Bushrod Washington. His father was very much 
delighted to see him clothed. The King, Princes, 
Headmen, and people, went with us to the tree on 
the Beach near Jumbotown, one of the aforesaid 
boundaries, and a boy clambered up it, and cut off 
some of its branches, leaving one branch, which as- 
cended considerably higher than the rest; to this he 
tied about six yards of an American pendant, which 
the people consider a white man's gregre or fetish, 
and according to their prejudice, regard as sacred. 
Near this spot it was thought proper to make our 
settlement. The King's son will go with us to Si- 
erra Leone where he will be put to school, and taught 
to speak English. The King and people are all 
anxious that we should return immediately, even be- 
fore the rains fully sit in, but we do not give them 
any encouragement of our speedy return. 

These people are very kind, but are in a dread* 
ful state of heathenish darkness; they worship the 
"Dibbly man" and dedicate daily a part of their 
food to his Satannic Majesty. They profess to be- 
lieve that there is a good and merciful Deity, who 
can and will do them good, and not evil: but that 
the Devil is all powerful, and that it is necessary to 
appease his wrath. Every town has its peculiar 
Devil. [See Appendix.] The people, like all 
cfther natives, are in a state of nudity, except that 



£8 

they wear about one and a half yards of narrow 
cloth about their loins; the men often wear hats, 
while the children are not burthcned with any kind 
of cloathes, but frequently, like the adults, wear 
many beads. Leopard's teeth are thought to be ve- 
ry valuable ornaments. 

The King, when in general palaver, was clad in 
his robes, which covered his whole body; he had on 
also an elegant cap; at other times he wore a drab 
coloured broad cloth great coat with a number of 
capes. His Headmen were partially clad, some with 
blue cloth roundabouts with military or naval but- 
tons. They wore no shirts. Many of them had belts 
of beads, which contained one or more pounds each. 

There are many Kroomen in the towns along the 
coast. They are employed as agents or factors for 
the authorities of the country, who monopolize all 
the trade. [See Appendix.] These agents have 
each a number of certificates from masters of vessels 
who have employed them. They wished us to give 
them books, likewise, but we had no occasion to em- 
ploy them as factors. JBottle Beer required us to pay 
for the water with which our vessel had been fur- 
nished. With this demand, we did not comply, as 
we had not come "for trade." We informed the 
King of the demand, and he revoked it. The peo- 
ple all live in little villages or clusters of cottages 
in each of which is a Headman, who has a plurality 
of wives. If a native have but one wife, he is in- 
deed very poor. The Headman is the slaveholder, 
lie owns all the people in his town. The inhabitants 
of each town cultivate in common. The men seldom 
do any labour except fish a little, and hunt. The 
females and small boys cultivate the lands. The 
men trade and direct those who arc under them. I 
saw a fine looking female with iron fetters on her 
feet, which fetters, no doubt, were brought from a 
slave vessel, as we observed one under French co- 
lours, lying in the harbour at the same time. I made 
inquiry concerning the cause of her confinement, and 



H 

was told that she was taken in adultery. It is said 
by the natives that "Wife Palaver, very bad Pala- 
ver." It is punished with death, red water, or slave- 
ry, and most usually the latter. These people are 
indeed in gross darkness, depending upon their gre- 
gres and Devil worship. A town is not complete 
which has not a Palaver House, and Devil House. 
The latter has a small post standing near it, six or 
eight feet high, with a strip of white muslin about 
three fourths of a yard in length, and two or three 
inches wide, tied around the top. There they daily 
offer sacrifice. 

The Bassa country is situated between five and 
six degrees north latitude, and between ten and 
eleven west longitude, in the centre of the Grain 
Coast, which is about an equal distance from Sierra 
Leone and Cape Coast, where the English have com- 
menced a settlement. Swine, herds of neat Cattle, 
Sheep and Goats are bred here. 

At evening we took an affectionate leave of the 
King and some of the Headmen; the Old King ap- 
peared to be much affected, and said, "You have 
my son, you take him, Sierra Leone learn Book, when 
rain done, you come Grand Bassa, then King Jack 
Ben give you plenty Boys learn Book." The peo- 
ple are all apparently very anxious to have us re- 
turn; they seem to have great confidence in us. 

Grand Bassa, Saturday Morning, April 14th, 
1821. — Many natives were on board with fruit, rice, 
fowls, eggs and vegetables to sell, which we bought, 
chiefly for tobacco. It was with some difficulty, we 
got them off our decks, they were very sorry to part 
with us One of the Headmen sung a song of his 
own composition, thus, "Whiteman gone, whiteman 
gone, whiteman gone — gone whiteman, gone sabby 
jne, gone, gone, gone!" 

We have had much trouble with Captain Mar- 
tin, he appears to endeavour to protract our depar- 
ture: he is an unprincipled man, and a bad seaman 



30 

If we had not a more skilful mate we should be in 
great danger. At 12 o'clock we set sail, ou our re- 
turn to Sierra Leone, We make slow headway; 
the wind is light. At six o'clock we are not more 
than three or four leagues from Bassa. 

We are turning our attentiou to the state of our 
settlers at Sherbro, and those at Sierra Leone. We 
think of visiting Sherbro as we return. We are ve- 
ry anxious to hear from our friends. 

We feel grateful to GOD for his mercy, in pre- . 
serving us, and enabling us to accomplish our wishes 
in some degree. Still, however, we have continual 
need of Divine assistance. Our vessel leaks, and 
requires much attention; but our trust is in GOD 
alone, who has hitherto mercifully preserved us, so 
that "the sun hath not smitten us by day, neither the 
moon by night." The pestilence which walketh in 
darkness, hath not come near us; therefore, we are 
under renewed obligations to praise the Lord for his 
goodness, and for his wonderful works in the great 
deep. 

Sunday Morning, April 15th, 1821. At sea 
with a fair wind, we have just discovered Cape 
Mesurado. Had worship this morning as usual, 
and found it good for us to call upon the name of 
the Lord, to read His most holy word, to meditate 
upon His blessed promises, to praise Him for past 
mercies and implore the continuance of His most 
gracious aid. Our people having yesterday evening 
slaughtered the goat which the King presented us, 
it is necessary to cook some of the flesh, though it is 
the Sabbath day. It is very fine and fat, and quite 
a luxury, notwithstanding, we have had plenty of 
fowls, fish and oysters, fruits and vegetables. 

Prince Bushrod, is a little seasick, he ap- 
pears to be much pleased with his dress, and 
has been persuaded to take off his gregres. Davis 
having told him if he wore clothes, he must not wear 
gregres. His head was shorn when we took him on 



31 

board, except a little space above the left ear, where 
the hair was platted; he was also induced to shave 
it off entirely, so that the wool might grow out 
equally. We calculate to let him go to Regent's 
Town, and stay with Davis and attend school, under 
the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Johnson, where 
he will have the benefit of associating with some of 
his own countrymen, who are pious and useful 
people. 

Monday, April 16th, 1821. Last night there 
was a tremendous tornado, with much rain; at the 
appearance of a tornado, it is necessary to take in 
all sail immediately, as the wind generally blows 
powerfully. 

Our Kroomen are easily intimidated in bad 
weather, they have on their gregres, those which 
they think contain the most virtue and are best 
calculated to preserve them from the greatest dan- 
ger. I endeavoured to persuade them that their 
gregres were useless, and advised them to throw 
them into the sea, but my entreaties were in vain; 
one had his gregre tied with a twine, around his 
head above his ears; I took hold of the string and 
broke it. On examining it, I found it was composed 
of a ball of clay, tied up in a piece of white muslin 
with a small feather in the end; he was angry and 
sorry for his loss. One gave me his gregre, that I 
might view its contents: they consisted of nothing 
more than a kind of black sand tied up in a piece 
of rag. I threw the gregre into the sea, which griev- 
ed him very much. 

The Kroomen were all alarmed at their loss; and 
expressed fears that " Tornado catch us," or that 
some other accident would happen to us. They 
said that they (i make bad palaver on me," when 
we arrived at Sierra Leone, and that I should have 
to pay twenty barrs (equal to twenty dollars). They 
are poor creatures indeed, in every sense of the 
word. They appear to be very affectionate to each 



32 • 

other. When we are visited on board by other 
Kroomen, they beg food for them, or divide their 
own portion among the visitors. They prefer rice, 
which they boil and use with palm oil, to animal 
food. They sit down around a large dish of rice, 
and make use of their hands instead of spoons. 

i uesday Morning, April 17th, 1821. We 
were off the Galinas with a light wind, proceeding 
on towards the Shebar, which is the entrance into 
Sherbro sound, near the eastern part of Sherbro 
Island. We wished to cross over the Shebar, which 
is difficult without a skilful pilot. A native who 
resides at Bohol within the bar, on discovering a 
vessel, generally goes out in his canoe to meet her. 
We hoped to be discovered by him so that we might 
pass over in safety. Our object was to visit our 
people at Yonei, a native town on the Island, oppo- 
site Bohol, which is on the main. At evening we 
heard the surf roar as its waves rolled over the 
Shebar, it is heard several leagues; the wind was 
ahead, and we made slow progress. Our vessel 
appeared to leak more than she had done, and the 
inexperience of our navigators, gave us great anxiety; 
but our trust was still in God alone. 

Wednesday, April 18th, 1821. Still we were 
off the Shebar, but had made little progress during 
the night; at twelve o'clock, there was a tornado; 
the wind blew powerfully twenty or thirty minutes, 
and was accompanied with considerable rain. These 
tornadoes are nothing to be compared with the hur- 
ricanes which are common among the West India 
Islands. 

Thursday Morning, April 19th, 1821. We 
were within sight of the Shebar and had a delight 
ful air after the rains. Laying off and on with our 
vessel, hoping a pilot would come off to our assist- 
ance; several guns were tired as signals for pilots, hut 
none came; therefore we had but two alternatives, 
one was to sail round the Island, which as the wind 



33 



are light requires seven or ten days: the other was 
to send our boat over the Shebar for a pilot. As 
our sailors were unwilling to go in the boat, I pre- 
vailed upon them by proposing to accompany them. 
After approaching as near the Shebar as was thought 
prudent, the vessel was brought to anchor, at four 
o'clock, P. M. The boat was manned with the mate 
of the vessel and three natives, one a sailor, the others 
Kroomen. The mate, although a tolerably good 
boatman, apprehended more danger than I did, for 
I had not had much experience in crossing such bars. 
At length we started in the* boat, and approached 
near the bar. It appeared dangerous indeed. The 
mate, being at the rudder, gave directions to the oars, 
men to obey him promptly; he told them he should 
watch the motion of the waves, and that, when he 
ordered them to pull at their oars, they must pull for 
their lives. We soon found our boat first soar- 
ing over the turbulent waves, then plunging into the 
deep, while the waves were rolling in quick succes- 
sion after us, each appearing as if it would envelop 
us in the ocean. One wave poured about v>0 gallons 
of water into the boat, which caused me active em- 
ployment in lading out the water; the boat having 
been brought quartering to the waves, it required 
quick exertion by the men at the oars, who were 
somewhat frightened, but were enabled to bring the 
boat to its proper position before the succeeding wave 
came, which wafted us over the greatest danger; by 
that time I had nearly laded out the water. In. 
deed, it was mercy to us, that we were not swal- 
lowed up. Not unto us! not unto us! but unto thy 
name, O GOD, be all the glory, both now and for 
ever! 

We soon after arrived at Bohol, where we ob- 
tained a pilot. The boatmen remained until the tide 
favoured us the next morning. Lewis Tucker is 
Headman at Bohol; he has many people, and it is 
feared that he and his brothers have not wholly abo- 

5 



3* 

lishcd the slave trade, though they do not carry it 
on as publicly as at former times. 

I obtained a passage to Yonie, in one of Tucker s 
canoes that evening, where I arrived at 1) o'clock, and 
found the American free people of colour, who had 
survived, of the first expedition. I went to the house 
where Nathaniel Brander resides. He had the peo- 
ple and goods in charge. I was very much fatigued, 
from having been wet in the boat, and afterwards ex- 
posed to the damps of the evening. I soon learnt 
the condition of the people, and found they were m 
good health; they had previously received some small 
supplies from Mr. Winn, at Sierra Leone. After 
partaking of some refreshment which Brander caused 
to be prepared, I read a chapter in the Bible, and 
returned thanks to Almighty GOD for the great 
mercy and deliverance of the past day. 

O Lord! 

"When waves on waves, to heav'n uprear'd 

Defy'd the pilot's art, 
When terror in each face appeared, 

And sorrow in each heart, 
To thee I raised my humble pray'r, 

To snatch me from the grave! 
I found thine ear not slow to hear, 

Nor short thine arm to save!" 

I consider my preservation that day as one of the 
most extraordinary manifestations of Divine Grace 
to me during my life. 

Yonie, Friday Morning, 20th April, 1821.— 1 
arose somewhat indisposed from the fatigues and ex- 
treme exposure of the preceding evening. I visited 
Prince Cong Kouber; he is a fine healthy man, well 
formed, handsome featured, and his very countenance 
indicating shrewdness. He speaks English so as to 
be understood tolerably well; is a man of but icw 
words, with much observation, and is indeed pos- 



V 



35 

aessed of more power than the King, although the 
latter is acknowledged by his subjects: Kouber is 
Prime Minister and manages as he pleases. The 
Kings on the Main are not well pleased with King 
Sherbro, who resides at Yonie: so that that perhaps 
was one cause which prevented Mr. Coker from ne- 
gotiating with them for lands. But the principal 
reason was, Kizzell having caused the agents and 
people to make a temporary stay at his place. The 
Authorities of the whole country consider him a 
"stranger," (an intruder,) and, as he was employed in 
assisting Mr. Coker in endeavouring to negotiate for 
lands, they thought that he would monopolize the 
presents: moreover he had already the trade 
with our people. Even while they were sick, 
and were in want of fresh provisions, Kizzell 
established himself as a huckster, and bought 
cheap and sold dear: and Mr. Coker being at 
the palaver, they were compelled to submit to 
the imposition. Having seen all the American peo- 
ple who are at Yonie. and found that, notwithstand- 
ing sickness and death had occurred, and other dif- 
ficulties, as might have been expected, from the de- 
cease of their agents, and their having been left un- 
der the authority of a man of colour, they being 
unwilling to be governed by one of their own race, 
yet they were much pleased with the country, and 
with the intelligence that lands had been negotiated 
for, and the expectation that they should soon be in 
possession of a suitable portion which they could call 
their own. 

At 4* o'clock, P. M. our Schooner arrived and an- 
chored in the bay off Yonie. We had more trouble with 
our Captain, who unmercifully beat some of the sai- 
lors and the Kroomen, which had been extremely 
unpleasant to Brother Andrus, and our native Mis- 
sionaries, who were heralds of mercy and peace. 

We feared that we should have trouble with the 
King and natives at Sherbro; that when- our people 



should remove from there, they would extort very 
much for cottage rents, notwithstanding they have 
received large presents, and have given nothing in 
return. It having heen known to them that Kizzell 
had charged sixty Dollars per month for one single 
hut, while it was occupied hy our people. 

Saturday Morning, Sist April, 1831. We left 
some small supplies which we could spare from the 
Schooner, as the people would soon be in need, un- 
less they were removed. We then made the neces- 
sary preparations for our departure: we bought a 
sheep of Kouber,for which we gave eight pounds of 
leaf tobacco. 

Dispatch of business appears to be quite out of 
practice; it was near night before we could prevail 
on our Captain to weigh anchor and get the vessel 
under way. We proceeded on to Kizzell's place, 
which is from 15 to 20 miles distance. At 7 o'clock, 
P. M. we arrived at York Island, where Martin, 
after anchoring the Schooner, went on shore to visit 
his wife, who is a native. We obtained from the na- 
tives, who came on board, four or five gallons of ho- 
ney, which cost about as many pounds of leaf tobac- 
co;" likewise, several mats and some cocoanuts, fowls, 
vegetables, &c. 

Sunday Morning, 2£d April, 1831. — We con- 
cluded that it was a duty for us to proceed on, as the 
wind and tide were in our favour, and as moreover, 
we had been informed that the winds were very va- 
riable in SherbroBay, and that frequently vessels were 
dctaiued there one or more weeks on that account. 

Brother Andrus, Tamba, Davis, and myself, at- 
tended religious duties. At -i o'clock P. M. we ar- 
rived at Campelar (Kizzell's place.) I probably did 
not go on shore without possessing some prejudice 
against Kizzell. But, indeed, 1 was very much sur- 
prised at his malignant conduct. After we had made 
ourselves known to him, he appeared somewhat dis- 
concerted at seeini: the successors of our deceased 



37 

friends. He, doubtless, felt some compunctions on 
account of his baseness. Our intention was to tarry 
but a short time on shore. We asked him to show 
us the ground where our predecessors and people 
were buried, and we expressed a wish to see his 
"Meridian," [spring] as he sometimes denominates 
it. At length we walked to his spring, and in the 
very appearance of the water saw an indication of 
its impurity; it appeared to be in a state of fer- 
mentation, and, I must confess, I did not wish to 
taste it. 

After we returned, we passed by his Church, as he 
denominated it. It was built in the native stile, and 
would contain about one hundred people. There was 
a kind of Desk on which lay a Bible and Hymn 
Book. But if the life and conduct of the speaker, 
were as humble as the appearance of the House, 
they would better corespond. May the Lord give 
him grace to repent; and may he be forgiven. 

We also visited the graves of our friends, and 
found them so situated that the spring tides overflow 
them. Indeed Kizzell was under the necessity 
of building a mud wall along the beach, to pre- 
vent the water from flowing quite into his cot- 
tages. The Island is low, bad land, literally a 
mangrove swamp, unfit for cultivating with any de- 
gree of comfort or profit. The exhalations from its 
soil, renders the atmosphere very unpleasant. This 
made our return on board the vessel desirable. It 
is indeed unpleasant to dwell upon Kizzell's conduct, 
though it may be deemed necessary to make some 
exposition of his baseness. While viewing those 
solitary abodes of our friends, I said to Kizzell, I 
conclude you have no objections to those corpses re- 
maining here, as a removal would be inexpedient, 
and the ground is of no value? His reply was, that 
the Rev. Samuel Bacon agreed, at the burial of Dr. 
Samuel A. Crozer, and Captain Townsend, that 
he would cause them to be removed after lands 



38 

should be obtained, and the settlers located on them; 
and he seemed to expect a fulfilment of that agree- 
ment, I then put the question thus: do you expect 
an equivalent if those bodies should remain? He 
seemed to endeavour to evade a direct answer, and 
said that they ought to be removed. I then said to 
him, are you willing that they should remain here, 
if you have pay for the ground? His answer was 
in the affirmative. He had at the same time al- 
ready sent an account to Sierra Leone, to Mr. Winu, 
principal agent, amounting to almost 8800 dollars; 
and yet his avaricious appetite was not satisfied. 
We left Kizzell, with our prejudices increased ra- 
ther than lessened. 

Monday Morning, April S3d, 1821. — At six 
o'clock, we weighed anchor, but we had not pro- 
ceeded far, before a canoe which Tamba had pur- 
chased, and which was tied slightly to the vessel 
with a rope, parted, the wind blowing powerfully, 
and we sailing very fast. This caused us to anchor, 
having previously manned our boat and sent for the 
canoe. Martin was told that the canoe was unsafe 
in her present situation. But we had reason to think 
that he was willing to protract the voyage on account 
of his being profitably employed. He knew if the 
wind continued, and we proceeded on without ob- 
stacle, we should soon arrive so far down the bay 
as to have the benefit of the sea breeze, which pre- 
vails after ten o'clock, A. M. and thus reach Sierra 
Leone, in a short time. 

At 8 o'clock, P. M. we anchored near the Plan- 
tain Islands. We were very anxious to hear from 
Sierra Leone. Brother Andrus had concluded to 
return to America and we were in hopes that the 
Nautilus had not left Sierra Leone, but that he 
might avail himself of {he opportunity of returning 
by her. If disappointed in this resolution, he had 
resolved to go by the way of England, which must 
necessarily increase both the time and expense. 



39 

He was induced to yield to this determination, 
by the probability that the American Blacks would 
not be removed to the Bassa country, until after the 
rainy season; and that, therefore, the assistance of 
all the agents would not be necessary to administer 
to their wants. Having discovered the want of Mis- 
sionaries in Africa, and the ardent desire of the na- 
tives to receive them, he had formed the resolution 
to resign his appointment as agent to the Coloniza- 
tion Society, and return to these shores in the 
capacity of a Missionary, and here spend the 
remainder of his days in his Master's service, as had 
been his wish before leaving America.., 

Tuesday, April S4rth, 1821. — Having as usual 
come to anchor last night, we got under sail this 
morning, at six o'clock. At half past eight o'clock, 
A. M. brother Andrus and Tamba, left the schooner, 
and went in our boat, in company with two Kroomea 
in a canoe which Tamba had bought for the pur- 
pose of leaving us. His object was to go and la 
hour as a Missionary, in the Sherbro country. He 
had determined to do so before our arrival at Sierra 
Leone; but Mr. Johnson, learning that we were in 
want of interpreters to explore the Coast, proposed, 
that he should accompany us on our excursion, and 
that he should stop at Sherbro on our return. The 
wind was very light, and we made slow progress, 
and soon came to anchor, At 2 o'clock Brother 
Andrus met us, after our vessel had got under way, 
He was much pleased with his visit to the Plan- 
tains, and said the Islands were delightfully situated 
and very fertile. He was agreeably entertained by the 
owner of them, Geo. Caulker, who was a native Afri- 
can,educated in England. He found him employed in 
writing, his table being well furnished with paper? 
He learnt that he had translated the Liturgy of the 
Church of England into the Bullum language, 
and was engaged in translating the Bible, and had 
made considerable progress in the Book of Genesis. 



40 

O! iiow cheering is the thought that the time is fast 
approaching and near at hand, when the Bullumv 
people will read and hear in their own language, of 
the wonderful works of GOD; and this too, through 
the instrumentality of one of their own kindred and 
tribe, who hath, perhaps, been concerned in that 
bane of Africa, the Slave Trade; but who, after hav- 
ing acquired an English education, and received the 
influences of the Holy Spirit in his heart, has been 
induced to commence the laudable work of transla- 
ting the pages of the Book of Life. 

Mr. Andrus found Caulker to be a man of ta- 
lents; and obtained from him much useful informa- 
tion. Caulker professed an attachment to the Pro- 
testant Episcopal Church of England, and is 
thought to be a pious man. Mr. Andrus inform- 
ed him of the subject of our Mission, and that 
we had negotiated for lands in the Bassa country. 
Caulker stated that he had travelled into the interior 
of that country, and that he deemed it the most eli- 
gible situation for our settlement of any on the coast; 
being, as it was, situated in the centre of the Grain 
Coast. He said that its inhabitants were unwar- 
like, and less hostile than any of the neighbouring 
tribes — that the coast was accessible to small ves- 
sels, and that large ships might lie at anchor within 
two or three miles distance; and moreover, that its 
soil was equal, if not superior, to any other on the 
western coast, and its herds far preferable. Caulker 
exhibited some neat cattle and swine as a specimen, 
they having been brought from the Bassa country. 
Mr. A. said the swine were equal to those in Ame- 
rica in general, and the neat cattle superior to any 
he had ever seen in Africa. 

Caulker's house was furnished in English style; 
his dress accorded with it, and he had au English 
school on his Island. 

Before he left the Plantain Island, brother An- 
drus inquired of Caulker whether the lime trees were 



41 

growing on that Island, which the Rev. John New- 
ion planted, while a Slave in Africa. Mr. Caulker 
said they were still growing: and showed them to 
Mr. Andrus. Mr. A. plucked some branches, and 
brought them to Sierra Leone. 

Caulker, like all others, who have had any in- 
tercourse with Kizzell, consider him an unprinci- 
pled man, and " a stranger" in the country, and 
that our people could not have stopped at a more un- 
suitable spot than Campelar. Tamba commenced 
bis missionary tour among the Sherbro (Bullum) 
people, with two Kroomen to paddle his canoe. — ■ 
Tamba and Davis, are supported by the Church 
Missionary Society in England, and they appear to 
be useful good men. 

O that the Lord would incline the hearts of 
Christians in America to send over labourers, who 
are willing to take their lives in their hands, and go 
to the help of the Lord! to the help of the Lord, 
against the mighty! 

Wednesday Morning, April 25th, 1821. — We 
were between the Bannana Islands and Cape Shil- 
ling, and had a fair view of each; Cape Shilling 
is the place where the late Rev. Samuel Bacon 
died. 

He left Campelar (KizzelPs place) about the 
last of April, 1820, in an open boat, for the purpose 
of going to Sierra Leone, in order to procure medi- 
cal aid. He expected to fall in with an English 
vessel, but he was not in time. Therefore, he di- 
rected his men to proceed on in the boat; he arrived 
at Cape Shilling on the first of May. Cape Shil- 
ling is an English settlement of re-captured Afri- 
cans. A Captain Handle, was the English agent, 
residing there. He received the Rev. Mr. Bacon into 
the Mission House, and hospitably administered to 
his wants, as did also Mrs. Handle. They affec- 
tionately acted the part of the good Samaritan, and 
rendered him every assistance in their power — For 

6 



42 

which I gave them my most hearty thanks; as I 
visited them at Freetown, soon after our arrival. 
And I pray God Almighty to bless and reward 
them in this world, and in that which is to come. 

Alas! the extreme anxiety of mind, of my dear 
Brother, and his most arduous labours among the 
American people of colour, at KizzelVs place; be- 
ing as he was constantly employed with the sick and 
dying both day and night, while sick himself, with 
the use of that bad water, which it was said Kizzell 
did not use even in his own family of native Afri- 
cans, proved too much for him. On the third day 
of May, 18&0, he departed this life; and we have 
good reason to believe he is with Christ, which is 
far better. He was buried in a decent manner. Mr. 
and Mrs. Handle, paid him the last acts of benevo- 
lence. 

In him I lost an affectionate and dear Brother, 
and a brother in Christ, a counsellor, teacher and 
friend. O! Africa! O! Africa! Thou hast lost a 
benefactor! Thou hast lost a bright and a shining 
light— a preacher of Righteousness! And the 
Church of Christ on earth, has lost an Evange 
list! 

0! Lord I beseech thee to give me grace, so to 
live, and so to labour, and so to glorify Thee, that 
when thou shalt call upon me to give an account of 
my one talent, I may not say, "here Lord is the one 
talent which thou gavest me'*, &c. but may say, 
here am I Lord, and those souls whom thou hast 
given me. 

1 did not go on shore at Cape Shilling, there- 
fore, I could not visit the grave of dear Samuel. The 
wind was fair which watted us along. 

Thursday, April 20. — We had a head v/ind, 
and many difficulties to encounter. We caught 
however, an abundance of iish. Our greatest diffi-l 
ulry was, as we came into the harbour of Sierra Le 



one. Captain Martin, (as if he had not caused us 
sufficient trouble) managing the vessel, to bring her 
into port, did not take in sail in time, and let go 
the anchor, but let her run against the wharf, and it 
was with great difficulty that we got her off again, 
and brought her to an anchor. 

Indeed our troubles have been neither few nor 
small, some times 1 have thought they were enough 
to exhaust the patience of a Job, or appall the faith of 
a Moses. But the Lord had hitherto blessed us. 
therefore we give him all of the glory both now 
and evermore. 

Sierra Leone, Friday, April 37th, 1821. — We 
had learued that the Nautilus had sailed on her re- 
turn to America, so that brother Andrus resolved to 
return by the way of England. 

At 10 o'clock, we visited Foura Bay Farm, 
which is about two miles from Freetown. There 
we found Mr. Wiqn, conveniently located with the 
blacks who accompanied us from America, together 
with some of those from Sherbro. There is a large- 
Mansion House and several out houses, and tene- 
ments, sufficiently capacious for the accommodation 
of the people, and the storage of the goods pro- 
visions, &c. which Mr. Winn negotiated for about 
two weeks after we sailed down the coast. We 
found our friends in tolerable health, though there, 
had been some slight cases of illness, accompanied 
with fever, but they had mostly subsided, and the 
coloured people said they were well pleased with 
Africa: they had lands suitable for cultivation, and 
had made some progress. 

After informing our friends, of our obtaining lands, 
&c. Mr. Andrus and myself, went back to Free- 
town, where he went on board the schooner, and I 
lvisited the Rev. Samuel Flood, Chaplain of the 
[English Colony: after I had dined with him, he 
very politely furnished me with a horse, on which I 
Irode to Kegentstown, where my dear wife was 



*§ 

sick of a fever, she had the attack on the even- 
ing previous, hut it was not very violent. We had 
abundant reason to be thankful to GOD, for his mer- 
cy, in sparing us to see each other again in this 
world. 

Mrs. Bacon was very politely and hospitably 
treated at good Mr. Johnson's: she morning and 
evening, enjoyed in the Church, the sight of the 
children of Ethiopia, stretching out their hands un- 
to God, and united with them in praising his most 
Holy name. 

Mr. Johnson was delighted to hear that we had 
made a contract for lands in the Bassa Country: he 
is very much interested in the accomplishment of our 
several designs, for the improvement of the African 
race. He is a faithful Minister of Christ, and la- 
bours to save the souls of his fellow men. We 
found it good to unite again with those who daily 
offered up their supplications in our behalf at the 
throne of grace. 

Kegentstown, Saturday Morning, April 38th, 
1831. My dear wife is just able to walk by lean- 
ing upon my arm; anxiety of mind, perhaps was 
one cause of her illness. At one o'clock, P. M. she 
appears to be worse; she had a physician, who 
daily attends Miss Johnson who is also sick; four 
o'clock, there is not much alteration, rather worse; 
O Lord help us! At six o'clock, P. M. the people are 
assembled in Church, where there is reading, prais- 
ing and praying: it is indeed gratifying to see the 
improvements which are made here; the very hills 
resound with the praises of GOD, and of the 
LAMB. 0! that the Lord would cause His word 
to extend from the rivers to the ends of the 
earth. 

Regentstown, Sunday Morning, 29th April, 
1831. — Mrs. Bacon is very ill, she is attended by 
Dr. Macauley Wilson, a native of the Bulluni tribe; 
he was educated in England, is an assistant Sur- 



45 

geon in this Colony; a decent, well-behaved man; 
and is considered skilful in his profession. This 
morning the Church was filled at 6 o'clock, as is usu- 
al, and a lesson was read, together with singing and 
prayers: after which we breakfasted, and then had 
prayers in the family. Mrs. Bacon appears to be 
worse. O Lord, the issues of life and death are in 
thine hand; spare my dear Wife, if it be thy will. 

At 10 o'clock the people were all in motion, 
coming to the Church from all parts of the town. 0! 
these are the fruits of the labours of a faithful Mis- 
sionary, accompanied by the blessings of that GOD 
who has said, "in the morning sow thy seed, and in 
the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou know- 
est not which shall prosper, this, or that." 

It is enough for us to know that we are in the 
path of duty, and endeavouring to do it by GOD's 
grace assisting us, without which we can do no- 
thing acceptable. 

At a o'clock, P. M. the Physician arrived; he 
thinks that Mrs. Bacon will not have the fever very 
severely. At 3 o'clock, the people are again flocking 
together to hear the Word of Life. Their very 
countenances show that they are anxious to learn of 
HIM, who is meek and lowly of heart. "These are 
times which Kings and Prophets desired to see," but 
did not see them; and as I walk around the house in 
the piazza, I can see all parts of the settlement, and 
there is scarcely an individual to be seen — all are at 
Church. Indeed "these people live a life of prayer 
and praise." At 6 o'clock this evening, the goodly 
Shepherd again brake the bread of life to his flock, 
whose appetites seem to crave more of that, which, 
if a man eat thereof, he shall live forever. Thus the 
labours of the Rev. Mr. Johnson are perpetuated; he 
preaches twice or thrice every Sabbath, and has 
prayers in Church morning and evening, besides 
prayer meetings and lectures. 

At 9 o'clock Mrs. Bacon appears no better; the 



46 

fever seems to increase this evening. 6 Lord, sanc- 
tify these afflictions to us; may they work out for us 
a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 

Monday Morning, 30th April, 1821.— Mrs.*Ba- 
con was worse last night than at any time previous. 
I remain with her while the family are at prayers, 
but it is deemed necessary that we should separate 
for a short time. As we know every thing which 
could tend to meliorate her sufferings would be un- 
doubtedly done; and as there was business to trans- 
act at Foura Bay, discharging the Schooner's crew, 
and consulting with the agents, upon the propriety of 
removing the people from Shcrbro, or sending them 
some necessaries of life: therefore, my dear wife and 
myself deemed it expedient for me to go, and leave 
the event to GOD, who doeth all things well. After 
imploring God's blessing on us, I left Regentstown, 
with an expectation of visiting it again on the Wed- 
nesday evening following. These are times which 
are calculated to try me, of what spirit I am. As I 
walked from Regentstown, it was a time of self-ex- 
amination. I inquired whether 1 was, or was not, 
sorry that I came to Africa; but I had expected sick- 
ness to occur, and perhaps death; and 1 concluded 
if we were to die in endeavouring to benefit the hea- 
then, and destroy that most detestable traffic, the 
Slave Trade, it would be in as good a cause as we 
could desire. I was fully confirmed in the opinion, 
that Africa presented an ample field for the exercises 
of benevolence, and that the Christian world owed 
her a debt of gratitude; therefore, left the event to 
GOD alone, and endeavoured to seek his direction. 

I arrived at Foura Bay, at 10 o'clock, A. M. and 
found some slight illness among the people of col 
lour, but nothing alarming, except the case of one 
woman, who was in a decline before she left Ame- 
rica. I discharged the crew from the Schooner in 
the Bay, and placed some of our men on board, to 
• ake care of her. 

\ 



47 

Tuesday Morning, 1st May, 1821. — A messenger 
arrived with a note from Mr. Johnson, which inform- 
ed me that Mrs. Bacon had less fever than on the 
morning I left her; I immediately dispatched the 
messengei. Having exerted myself overmuch, and 
suffered considerable anxiety of mind, and having 
moreover drank too freely of water, which is thought 
to be prejudicial to the health of white people in Af- 
rica; at 11 o'clock, A. M. I felt somewhat indis- 
posed, perspiration ceased; I was attacked with pain 
in the back part of the head, neck and back. 1 im- 
mediately went on board the Schooner, where bro- 
ther Andrus and myself still had our lodgings; took 
some . medicine, and retired to my birth. 1 soon 
found a chilliness to pervade the whole system. I 
even found it necessary to use flannel blankets. 
After about two hours, the chill was succeeded by 
fever, which continued until 9 in the evening, when 
it intermitted, the medicine having had its desired 
effect. The stomach being in a state for the re- 
ception of tonicks, and Brother Andrus having a 
small treatise of practice, by Dr. Winterbottom, 
which directed bark to be given in as large quan- 
tities as the stomach would receive, Brother An- 
drus followed that plan during the night, and at- 
tended to me very kindly. 

Wednesday Morning, 2d May, 1821.— No fe- 
ver, and continued to use the bark until 4 o'clock 
P. M. Dr. Macauly Wilson arrived after he had 
been informed of the course which had been pur- 
sued, highly approved of it; he then gave me two 
calomel pills, which had the desired effect, after 
which, the bark was continued. 

Dr. Wilson had visited Mrs. Bacon, who is very 
much debilitated. This was the evening which I 
had proposed to visit her: but O Lord thou knowest 
all things; the issues of life and death are in thy 
hands, give us grace to bear afflictions. Thou wilt 
not lay one stroke more upon us than will be bene- 



ficial, therefore we pray for grace to sustain in time of 
need. 

Thursday Morning, 3d May, 1821, Foura Bay. — 
At 4 o'clock a chill came on again, succeeded by 
fever, which continued until 3 o'clock, P. M. After 
it had intermitted, Brother Andrus again gave me 
the* bark, two or three teaspoonfuls once an hour. I 
had become very much debilitated for so short an 
illness. A message came from Mr. Johnson, saying 
that Mrs. Bacon had not as much fever. 

Monday Morning, 7th May, 1821 — Being a lit- 
tle better, I went on shore for the purpose of remain- 
ing. Mrs. Bacon, who had heard of my illness, was 
brought as far as Gloucester, where she became too 
ill to proceed. These were trials of my faith; but 
during my whole sickness, that peace was experi- 
enced which "passeth knowledge." 

During the following days, I received several 
notes from the Rev. Mr. During, at Gloucester, by one 
of his servants, which informed me of the low state 
of Mrs. Bacon's health, and kindly stated that every 
means should be exerted to make her as comfortable 
as the circumstances of her case would admit; how- 
ever, her anxiety about me was so great, that it was 
thought by her Physician, that a removal to Foura 
Bay would probably be beneficial. Mr. Johnson, 
therefore, again sent six or eight of bis captured peo- 
ple with a palanquin, accompanied by Dr. Wilson, 
who caused her to be removed, although she was 
unable to set up. Those people were very affection- 
ate; they would frequently remove the veil of the pa- 
lanquin and view her with tender compassion, say- 
ing, "Poor Mama sicke! white Mama sickel" At 
length the company arrived. Our Heavenly Father 
permitted us once more to meet in this world, and 
unite our thanksgivings to Him who is all in all 
to those that love the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Sunday Morning, May 13th, 1821. About two 
o'clock, two of the officers of the United States 



49 

Sohooner Aligator arrived at Foura Bay, they hav- 
ing anchored off the harbour of Freetown, the pre- 
ceding evening. We were much rejoiced to see them 
so ardently engaged in the laudable work of annoy- 
ing the detestable Slave Trade. 

On Sundays there are meetings in the settlement, 
at which the coloured Preachers generally officiate, 
and they often meet for prayers in the evenings du- 
ring the week. 

Monday, 14th May, 1821.— We had the plea- 
sure of seeing Lieutenant Comadt. Stockton, of 
the Aligator, by whose politeness we received a num- 
ber of communications from the United States: Mrs. 
Bacon was so ill as not to be able to read her letters 
from her friends; my health appears to be improving 
gradually. 

Tuesday Morning, 13th May, 1821. — The Aliga- 
tor sailed on a cruize to the south eastward in search 
of Slaving vessels. Mrs. Bacon still remains very 

ill. 

Mr. Winn and myself deemed it expedient to re- 
pair the Schooner Augusta, for the purpose of remov- 
ing the people from Yonie, to the Bassa Country, 
as soon as the rainy season subsides; or sooner if 
thought best. It was determined that I should 
cause the Schooner to be examined. 

Wednesday, 16th May, 1821. — Brother Andrus 
is preparing to leave us, on his return to the United 
States, by the way of England: very little can be 
done during the rains, except attending to the wants 
of the people. 

Thursday Morning, 17th May, 1821. This day 
I walked to Freetown, a distance of about two miles, 
for the purpose of procuring a ship carpenter, to ex- 
amine the Schooner and ascertain her condition, and 
succeeded in obtaining one: I visited Mr. Justice 
Crage, who very politely proposed that I should 
ride back, and lent me his horse for that purpose. 
This day's exertion nearly proved fatal. On my re- 
turn, I also found Mrs. Bacon very ill, so that our 



SO 

hopes of speedy recovery were blasted, and the 
prospects of future usefulness clouded; however, we 
still continued to look for help to God alone. 

Friday, 18th May, 1821. From this date not 
having kept a regular Diary, I shall only mention 
occurrences of the most importance. The Shipcar- 
penter examined the vessel and reported her worthy 
of repairs; he was therefore employed to repair her 
as speedily as possible; but dispatch of business be- 
ing uncommon, we were taught to expect that proba- 
bly six or eight weeks would be required to fit her 
for use. 

June 1st, 1821. — For the past two weeks, Mrs. 
Bacon and myself have been unable to attend to ve- 
ry little business of any kind. Mr. Winn has been 
ill a few days. Mr. Andrus has engaged his pas- 
sage for England, and expects to sail in about 
ten days; he is much pleased with the prospects of 
being useful in Africa, and appears to be extremely 
well calculated for a Missionary, as well as an A- 
gent; the climate agreeing with his constitution; his 
health, hitherto, has been better than that of any of 
the Agents. 

June lltb, 1821, Monday. Mrs. Bacon and my- 
self are still rather worse, more debilitated, particu- 
larly myself* We are so ill that Brother Andru6 
has suggested to us the propriety of his remaining in 
my stead, and Mrs. Bacon and myself going to the 
United States, it being supposed a sea voyage would 
prove beneficial to our healths. Having been at 
Freetown for the purpose of making some arrange- 
ments concerning his passage to England, aud learnt 
that a Schooner, which was a prize vessel, but had 
been purchased by the Hon. K. Macauley, is about 
to be sent to Barbadoes for sale, and in this Schoo- 
ner he has been offered a passage free of expense. On 
his first making the offer, I told him I did not feel 
disposed to go, as I had not thought of returning; 
but after further reflection, I consulted my Physician 
who advised our taking the voyage. I consulted also 



51 

Mr. Winn on the subject, and finally I concluded to 
embrace the opportunity, provided Mrs. Bacon and 
myself could obtain a passage. Mr. Andrus went 
again to Freetown, and obtained a passage for us in 
the same Schooner, being politely and gratuitously 
offered by the Hon. K. Macauly. Thus Mr, An- 
drus very kindly consented to remain and assist Mr. 
Winn, if he desired it, in my stead; for which kind- 
ness, as well as for making the necessary prepara- 
tions for the outfit, I feel much indebted to him. 

Wednesday, 13th June, 1821. — Our baggage was 
removed to the boat and we were by the assistance 
of our friends supported to walk to the boat. We 
arrived at the Schooner about six o'clock, P. M. ve- 
ry much exhausted; we rested but indifferently 
during the night; the next morning brought with 
it troubles long to be remembered, but I hope never 
to forget the goodness of God in sustaining us by his 
grace: at about 9 o'clock the heat became oppressive; 
Mrs. Bacon was taken extremely ill, and had she 
not obtained immediate aid would probably have sur- 
vived but a short time. But the timely assistance of 
Dr. Riche an English Surgeon, by the blessing of 
God, rendered her relief; at the same time I became 
worse myself. Thus situated, neither of us able to 
help the other, just embarking on a voyage of five 
thousand miles, a voyage too which we had recent- 
ly found very irksome, when we were enjoying 
the best of healths, it was by no means pleasant.— 
When we came on board, the time of our departure 
was not fixed; but as there was every day more or 
less rain, our healths required that we should avail 
ourselves of the first opportunity to get on board, that 
we might be in readiness to sail at any moment, 
when the vessel should be prepared. During the 
time of our laying in the harbour, we were both more 
ill than at any time previous; we were situated in the 
cabin in opposite births one on each side unable to 
assist each other, or to help ourselves, the colour- 
ed man who was to accompany us was employed in 
procuring the necessary supplies, so that he coaUl 



&2 

be with us but little. Brother Andrus visited us oc- 
casionally which rendered our situation more agree- 
able; still however we were often under the necessi- 
ty of calling on the Captain, and S. Easton, Esqr 
the Supercargo. When they were on board they 
were very obliging to us. These were solemn hours. 
As we viewed each other, it appeared probable that 
the time of our separation was near at hand. Still 
our hope was in GOD. 

In addition to our other afflictions, William Mar- 
tin, who has before been spoken of as an unprincipled 
man, and as having endeavoured to protract the voy- 
age, came forward with an unreasonable demand, of 
which it may be necessary to make some exposition, 
in order to prevent others from being imposed upon 
in a similar manner. He had been employed in the 
charge of the United States Schooner Augusta, after 
the decease of Mr. Townsend and his crew, for 
which service he received a full compensation. Af- 
ter our arrival, we again employed him to man the 
vessel and navigate her in our excursion, exploring 
the coast: he shipped the crew, except the Kroomen, 
and on our return, I adjusted his accounts according to 
the price agreed upon, and for the time that he had 
served which was about five weeks: still however he 
and his crew were dissatisfied because they were 
discharged: they had learnt a certain law was in 
force in Sierra Leone, making it the duty of em- 
ployers td give their servants notice one month pre- 
vious to the time of their discharge, making the em- 
ployers liable for one months wages if they failed to 
give said notice (the same law makes it the duty of 
servants to give one months notice to their employ- 
ers, and subjects them to the forfeiture of their 
wages on failure of so doing,) we being ignorant of this 
law, Martin took occasion from it to impose upon us. 
He made an extra demand amounting to about six- 
ty dollars, which after the necessary inquiry, I found 
myself obliged to settle. At length we took leave of 
our friends on Saturday the t<Uhof June, 1821, and 
sailed out of the harbour of Sierra Leone with the 



00 

morning tide, but did not proceed far before evening. 
In the evening I was much worse, indeed it was a 
time long to be remembered, I had no expectation of 
surviving ; accordingly I gave directions to my wife 
and commended her, together with the cause in which 
we were engaged, to HIM who has promised to be 
a father to the fatherless, and the widow's God. 
Death appeared fast approaching, and I must say that 
grim messenger had lost his terrors, and I could then 
exclaim, "O grave, where is thy victory."It was solemn 
but interesting to behold the dear wife of my bosom 
though unable to help herself, making what appear- 
ed to be the last effort to render my last moments 
comfortable. The exercises of my mind, under these 
circumstances, I am unable to describe. The hap- 
piness of which I then enjoyed a foretaste, was un- 
speakable; not that I had merited any thing of my- 
self, neither was I worthy of the comfort with whicti 
I was favoured; Christ was all in all. 

Sunday Morning, 17th June, 1881. — I awoke, 
and was astonished to find myself in this trouble- 
some world. 1 was exercised with dreadful pains, 
which pervaded my whole system. For a considera- 
ble time I was unable to speak. Discovering our fa- 
mily Bible lying near, I made signs for it to be given 
to me, which it was. I soon spoke; I had no distinct 
recollections of the exercises of my mind during the 
night, but I imagined that I had arisen from the bed 
of death. I then thought I esteemed the Bible much 
more highly than I had ever before; I considered it 
HOLY indeed, and that almost a touch would pollute 
it. Probably the change of air, and the motion of 
the vessel caused the fever to form a crisis, which the 
constitution, by Divine assistance, was enabled to 
endure. 

After this, a gradual recovery took place, my wife 
was my Physician, and constant attendant and di- 
rectress. Still we found difficulties which were un- 
pleasant. The Captain and Mate were Englishmen, 
and several of the crew; but several others were 
Spaniards, beside which there were some negroes. 



03 

To these the Spaniards took a dislike, from the time 
of embarkation : several rencounters took place, the 
Spaniards not unfrequently threatened the lives of 
the negroes; but Mr. Easton (the supercargo,) the 
Captain, and sometimes Mrs. Bacon, dissuaded them 
from executing their horrid threats. We were, how- 
ever, fearful that murder would be committed, as the 
Spaniards were of that class of perpetrators taken 
from the slave ships, and were permitted to leave or 
rather were banished from the English colony. — 
There was great danger of their raising a mutiny, so 
that the Captain, Supercargo and Mate were always 
on the watch, having their arms near at hand, even 
when they retired to rest. Those fears rendered our 
passage not as agreeable as it otherwise would have 
been: the Officers were very obliging at all times. 
At length we arrived at the island of Barbadoes, the 
windward Island of the West Indies, on the 10th of 
July, with our healths somewhat repaired. This 
Island is situated pleasantly, under a well regulated 
government, established by the British. Mrs. Ba- 
con and myself were just able to walk from the 
wharf to the boarding-house, about 40 or 50 yards 
distance. There we remained four days, after which 
we took passage in aa English vessel for Martinique 
where we arrived in about 24 hours. We remained 
in Martinique until the 29th of July. This Island 
we found to be very sickly, and we were more de- 
bilitated when we left it than we were when we ar- 
rived. We took passage from thence in an Ameri- 
can Schooner, commanded by J. Pennington, of 
Great Eggharbour, and for about 8 days we had a 
delightful passage; after that we were almost be- 
calmed, and at length a storm came on, the wind N. 
E. which carried us into the Gulf Stream; we arri- 
ved within a short distance of Cape Lookout, then 
tacked ship and lay too under a short reft fore- 
sail about three days, the greater part of the 
time in the Gulf, which caused me to be very sea- 
sick. At length the storm abated, and on Monday 
*he 13th August, we had a brisk wind, which waft- 



56 



ed us iuto Hampton Roads, and on Tuesday we ar- 
rived at Norfolk, in a convalescent state of health. 

Notwithstanding our troubles have been neither 
few nor small, yet more abundantly has been the 
grace of GOD afforded us; therefore we give Him 
all the Glory both now and for ever. 



APPENDIX. 



Avl Extract from the Hoyal Gazette, \mb\ish~ 
ed at Treeto^vvi, Sierra Leone, Saturday, 
April 41st, 182V. 

Jlmencan Colonization on the Coast of Africa. 

We have not, for some time, made any mention of the 
American colonists, whose arrival in our harbour was no- 
ticed several weeks ago. It has just occurred that, although 
their situation and proceedings must be so well known in 
the colony as to render any statement respecting them in 
our columns altogether superfluous, there are in Great Bri- 
tain as well as in the United States — and, we trust, in other 
countries also — manv who take a lively interest in the lo- 
cation and in the progress of these settlers; and to those so 
interested, no means of communication can apply so gene- 
rally or so satisfactorily, under the present circumstances, 
as this Gazette. 

We therefore venture to state in a summary way, but 
with perfect accuracy of information, that the principal gen- 
tlemen to whose care and direction the settlers were com- 
mitted, sought, a few days after their arrival, an interview 
with the colonial authorities, at which his Honor the Act- 
ing Governor, and some of the Members of the Council of 
administration for the colony assisted. At this meeting, 
the American gentlemen explained their objects fully, mak- 
ing a candid communication of their instructions, and of 
all their views and objects. This frankness they used ex- 
pressly in the confidence of the most amicable dispositions 
on the part of those to whom they addressed themselves. 
Their confidence was declared to be founded as well on the 



56 APPENDIX. 

very friendly interest taken in the American plans of colo- 
nization by the British government, from the outset, as on 
congeniality of character and of objects between this colony 
kind the proposed American settlement. Due consideration 
was also bestowed upon the kind offices and the favourable 
dispositions shown by the colonial authorities to their Ame- 
rican co-operators on the coast, for the twofold objects of 
suppressing the slave trade and of civilizing Africa, by the 
formation of stations of free people qualified for the pur- 
pose. 

These candid and friendly declarations were answered 
with corresponding friendship and frankness. The objec- 
tions which had early existed in the minds of all reflecting 
persons in the colony against the establishment of an Ame- 
rican settlement in the Sherbro, were freely avowed and 
fairly stated. They were objections which would be felt 
equally by every American sincerely disposed to the im- 
provement of Africa. They were — 

1 . That the location in the Sherbro' was inconveniently 
near; so that it would clash with the private interests of 
this colony, and with the public benefits which would be 
conferred on the adjacent Africans by the intercourse of 
the colonists. The supplies of the principal articles of sub- 
sistence would be cut off, and a general small trade already 
established would be destroyed. An American settlement 
could not be wanted to do for Africa what was already 
done by the colonists, much less to derange the rapid pro- 
gress which would necessarily take place upon the founda- 
tion already firmly established. 

These considerations had reference to this colony, for 
which the authorities in America, and their agents, avowed 
the most friendly interest; and to the natives of Africa, 
whose deliverance and improvement would be the chief ob- 
jects of the American settlement, as they are already the 
chief objects of this. The other considerations are par- 
ticularly applicable to the American side of the question. 

2. The location of the American settlement in the Sher- 
bro' was already ascertained to be unadvisable on grounds 
particular to the Americans: it was ascertained by then- 
own experience, that no large ships could approach nearer 
than a distance of thirty or forty miles to any spot where it 
would be expedient to settle for their general and perma- 
nent purposes of improvement — the cultivation of the soil, 
and other pursuits of simple industry. The settlers of last 
season had been swept away by unsparing visitations of dis» 
ease, occasioned by bad air and bad water; and for these 
evils, the swampy nature of the country afforded no ho 



APPENDIX. 57 

ot remedy. The coloured agent*, upon whose fidelity and 
services the greatest reliance had been placed, was proved 
not to be trustworthy, and the native chiefs were known to 
be unfavorably disposed by the treacherous influence of this 
very agent, and to be disinclined to fulfil their engagements 
respecting the lands purchased from them. 

3. At a moderate distance from this colony, the settle- 
ments could not clash one with the other, either in the 
range of their beneficial exertions for the civilization and 
for the religious improvement of the African nations adja- 
cent to them, or in the industrious and commendable pur- 
suits of the colonists for the advancement of their private 
interests. 

4. The season was so far advanced, that sufficient time 
was not left to clear ground and to erect weather proof ha- 
bitations before the inset of the tornadoes, and the subse- 
quent speedy arrival of the heavy rains. 

Upon all these grounds, or nearly these, coinciding 
with the representations already sent forth thaough this 
Gazette, for general consideration in the Colony, in Ame- 
rica, and in England; coinciding also with the sentiments 
freely declared to the commanders and officers of the Ame- 
rican ships of war that visited the colony, who appeared to 
feel the reasoning to be equally forcible for their side as for 
ours, the American agents were satisfied that it would not 
be expedient to place their intended settlement in the Sher- 
bro': they resolved, therefore, to send their colonial 
schooner, with a select party, down the coast towards Cape 
Mount and Cape Mesurardo, to make choice of a new and 
more eligible station for their establishment. 

Perceiving that the year was too far advanced to admit 
the clearing of ground and the erection of houses in any 
newly acquired settlement before the inset of the rains, they 
requested to know if they could be accommodated, upon 
terms which may afterwards be adjusted, with the portion 
of land within this colony which might be necessary for 
purposes of residence and cultivation in the interval, prior* 
to the choice of a place, and the approach of the time for 
proceeding to the formation of their settlements. 

To this requisition a satisfactory answer was given; and 
His Honor the acting Governor, in pursuance of the dispo- 
sition, in which all the members of the council concurred 
with him, to give the best accommodation which the colony 
could afford, visited several places apparently the most 
eligible; but some ground of objection arising from incon- 

* Kizzell. 
8 



APPENDIX. 

venience of water or lowness of situation, or some other 
cause, prevented for a time the choice of any. 

At length it was proposed to the gentlemen having 
charge of the house and lands of the late Assistant Com- 
missary General Le Fevre, at Foura Bay, to let those 
houses and lands for the year. An arrangement was in 
consequence made, in virtue of which the American agents 
are now in possession of that place upon an equitable rent. 
Their colonists are well housed, and they have ample mea- 
sure of land clear and ready for cultivation. 

It was exceedingly fortunate that the American agents, 
and their settlers, were thus immediately provided with 
substantial habitations. The heavy tornadoes already ex- 
perienced could not have been encountered with safety in a 
state of inadequate preparation. 

We have further to mention, that an application from 
these gentlemen for permission to land their provisions and 
stores free of duties; and to dispose of such part of them 
as it may be necessary to sell for purposes of current use 
and exigency, was freely and cordially assented to. The 
principal merchants, whose opinions the Governor and 
Council thought it right to ask, as their interests were prin- 
cipally concerned, expressed their universal consent in the 
most liberal manner; declaring that they did not see any 
thing detrimental to their interests in what was required: 
but if it even had been a thing attended with some incon- 
venience, they would gladly overlook that inconvenience 
in their desire to accommodate the American gentlemen, 
and to promote and facilitate their objects. 

The American agents, in consequence of all these ar- 
rangements and facilities, are now, as we have already in- 
timated, established satisfactorily in Foura Bay house and 
farm. Their schooner may be soon expected, on her re- 
turn from the voyage of selection down the coast. Those 
on board her will then join their companions at Foura Bay 
farm, and remain until the opening of the dry-season shall 
invite them to proceed to fix themselves at the place of 
their ultimate destination; which place and its inhabitants, 
we trust, will ever be on terms of mutual friendship, and 
in the constant interchange of reciprocal kind offices with 
this colony. 



APPENDIX. 

Aw Abstract of Proceedings of t\\e C\\urc\v 
Missionary Society for west Africa, \mV 
YislieA in London, 1819— £0. 

By the latest intelligence, therefore, which has been re 
ceived, it appears that ten stations in the Colony are oc 
cupied by Missionaries and Teachers connected with the 
Society. The Colonial Schools in Freetown are under the 
care of Mr. and Mrs. Beckley and Mary Bouffler; assist- 
ed by George Fox and Mrs. Fox, Native Teachers. In 
the eastern part of the Colony, bordering on the Timma- 
nees, at Kisseij, the Rev. G. R. Nylander, the Minister, has 
under him Stephen Caulker, a Native Usher; and Mrs. 
Wenzei has charge of the Girls' School — at Waterloo, the 
Rev. J. G. Wilhelm and Mrs. Wilhelm are just stationed; 
as Mr. and Mrs. Lisk are at Hastings. Crossing to the 
south-western part of the Colony, at Kent, Mr. and Mrs. 
Randle are placed in charge of the inhabitants; and, return- 
ing to the Stations to the southward and westward of Free- 
town, and in its more immediate vicinity — at Charlotte, are 
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor; and, at Leopold, the Rev. Melchior 
Renner, Mrs. Renner, and William Allen a Native As- 
sistant — at Regenfs Town, the Rev. William Johnson is 
assisted by Mr. Bull, by his Sister Hannah Johnson, and 
by the three Natives before mentioned, Tamba, Davis, and 
Noah, who are here under preparation for labouring among 
their countrymen, and, in the mean time, employ in visit- 
ing them whatever time they can spare from their own pre- 
paration — at Gloucester, are the Rev- Henry During and 
Mrs. During; and, at Ifllberforcc, the Rev. Henry Charles 
Decker. 

In these Stations there are, therefore, Twenty-eight 
Christian Labourers; from whom many thousands of Ne- 
groes, recently liberated from Slave Ships, hear the truth? 
of the Gospel; and under whom, upward of 2000 Scholars, 
Adults and Children, are in a course of constant instruc- 
tion. 

The Rev. Thomas Rock Garnsey and the Rev. Samuel 
Flood have been appointed by Government, on the recom- 
mendation of the Society, to succeed Messrs. Garnon and 
Collier, as first and second Chaplains. They embarked 
for the Colony on the 29th of January, on board the " Ca- 
talina;" and, after encountering some danger in tiie Gam - 
bia by the oversetting of a boat, reached the Colony about 
the middle of March. Thev will render everv assistance 



oO APPENDIX. 

In their power to further the Society's designs. The Rev 
Melchior Renner and the Rev. G. R. Nylander had been 
appointed by the Governor, to the temporary supply of the 
duty of those offices. 

For the regulation of the affairs of the Mission Meet- 
ings of the Chaplains and Missionaries are held in Free- 
town, on the First Tuesday in January, April, July, and 
October. A Prayer Meeting, likewise, is held every Se- 
cond Tuesday in the month, to implore the Divine Blessing 
on all Missionary Efforts, and to pray for the maintenance 
of unity and brotherly love: this Meeting was suspended 
during the months of August, September, and October, by 
the excessively heavy rains, and the sickness which accom- 
panied them; but it was afterward resumed. 

HegeuVs Tcwxv. 

Mr. Johnson's return to this country afforded, as has 
been before stated, an opportunity of obtaining much more 
accurate information on the nature and success of his la- 
bours among the Liberated Negroes at Regent's Town, 
than could have been derived from correspondence with 
him. In frequent conferences, he entered largely into the 
subject; and disclosed, with Christian simplicity, the whole 
course of labour through which it had pleased God to lead 
him. 

Your Committee will venture to say, that the History 
of the Church has scarcely afforded so striking an instance 
of the power of Christianity in civilizing and blessing 
savage man. The state of the negroes when brought to- 
gether in Regent's Town, the effects produced on them by 
the blessing of God on the care and kindness of the gover- 
nor and on the ministry of the Gospel among them, and 
the manner in which these effects disclosed themselves, are 
of such a nature, that, though various circumstances rela- 
tive thereto have been reported on former occasions, the 
committee are persuaded that the members will be gratifi- 
ed by hearing the statement communicated by Mr. John- 
son while in this countrv« 

When brought together at this place i» the year 1813, 
the negroes were, as on the first settling of them in other 
Towns, in the most deplorable condition. In 1816, the 
Assistant Secretary, then on a visit to the Mission, found 
about 1100 Liberated Negroes assembled at this spot. 
They consisted of persons from almost all the tribes on 
'iat part of the Continent. The efforts of those who hac 5 



APPENDIX. Gl 

been placed over them, under the vigilant and anxious in- 
spection of the Governor, had meliorated the condition of 
such as had been there for any length of time. Every 
measure in his power had been resorted to, for this end, by 
his Excellency; and a Church had been erected, in prepa- 
ration for the regular administration of Christian Ordi- 
nances among them. His Excellency felt that a powerful 
stimulus was wanted, to rouse the Negroes to diligence; 
and that an energetic principle was required, which might 
harmonize their jarring feelings, and unite them as one 
body. That stimulus was found in the sense of duty and 
of gratitude which Christianity inspires; and that uniting 
principle, in the healing spirit of the Gospel. 

At the desire of the Governor, Mr. Johnson, then just 
arrived, was placed, by the Assistant Secretary, at his Ex- 
cellency's disposal; and was, in consequence, appointed to 
the care of Regent's Town, and immediately entered on 
his charge, in the month of June, 1816. 

On looking narrowly into the actual condition of the 
people entrusted to his care, Mr. Johnson felt great dis- 
couragement. Natives of twenty-two different nations 
were here collected together; and a considerable number 
of them had been but recently liberated from the holds oi 
slave vessels: they were greatly prejudiced against one 
another, and in a state of continual hostility, with no com- 
mon medium of intercourse but a little broken English. 
When clothing was given to them, they Avould sell it, or 
throw it away: it was difficult to induce them even to put 
it on; and it was not found practicable to introduce it 
among them, till led to it by the example of Mr. Johnson's 
servant girl. None of them, on their first arrival, seemed 
to live in the state of marriage: some were soon afterwards 
married by the late Mr. Butscher; but all the blessings of 
the marriage-state and of female purity appeared, when 
Mr. Johnson arrived among them, to be quite unknown. 
In some huts, ten of them were crowded together; and, in 
others, even fifteen and twenty: many of them were ghast- 
ly as skeletons: six or eight sometimes died in one day; and 
only six infants were born during the year. Superstition, 
in various forms, tyrannized over their minds: many Devil's 
Houses sprung up; and all placed their security in wearing 
greegrees. Scarcely any desire of improvement was dis- 
cernible: for a considerable time, there were hardly five 01 
six acres of land brought under cultivation; and some who 
wished to cultivate the soil, were deterred from doing so 
bv the fear of being plundered of the produce. Some would 



62 APPENDIX. 

live in the woods, apart from society; and others subsisted, 
by thieving and plunder: they would steal fowls, ducks, 
and pigs, from any who possessed them: in the first week 
of his residence among them, Mr. Johnson lost thirty fowls: 
they would eat them raw; and not a few of them, particu- 
larly those of the Ebo Nation, the most savage of them all, 
would prefer any kind of refuse-meat to the rations which 
they received from Government. 

Of this Nation of the Ebos it may be right to give some 
particulars. About forty of them having been drawn, on 
their liberation from the Slave Ships, to serve in the Afri- 
can Corps, they were placed under a course of military in- 
struction at Bance Island; but were discharged as intracta- 
ble, and were sent to Regent's Town. Here they soon 
gave proof of almost incredible brutality. A Negro, of 
another tribe, had a sow, which, three or four days before, 
had brought him a litter of nine pigs: some of these people 
stole his young pigs, and threw them all, while alive, into 
a large pot of boiling water: there the man found them, 
when, on returning home and ascertaining his loss, he had 
obtained Mr. Johnson's authority to search for them among 
his suspected neighbours. From another were stolen his 
dog and his iron pot, and he found both among the same, 
depredators, who were preparing for a repast on the poor 
animal, by boiling him in the pot which they had stolen. 
A sick dog had been killed, and buried: it was afterward 
discovered that some of these people had dug up and made 
soup of the carcase. 

These are repulsive details; but they set forth the great- 
ness of the change which has been wrought in these men. 
Placed under the care of one of the Natives — himself but 
recently liberated from the hold of a Slave Ship, and as yet 
but little influenced by Christian Principle — he exercised 
over them what appeared to him to be unavoidable severi- 
t) T ; but, when his own heart became powerfully affected by 
the Gospel, he would retire to the woods and pray for 
them — they formed a strong attachment to him — he pre- 
vailed on them to attend Church — and was made an instru- 
ment of incalculable good to them. The Word of God 
was blessed to many of them. They are all now civilized 
and married: they are steady, sober, and industrious; and 
several of them regularly communicate at the Lord's Ta- 
ble: all are become clean and decent, and attend the Pub- 
lic Worship of God. Thry are active and serviceable 

d. 



APPENDIX. 6 

The change in the Ebo People has been mentioned as 
illustrating, in a remarkable manner, the efficacy of Chris- 
tian Instruction, under the Divine Blessing, in civilizing 
and elevating the most abject of mankind. No human 
wisdom or eloquence, no secular hopes or fears, no coercion 
or inducements of man, ever produced such a change! It 
has been the act of that same Divine Power, which 
wrought, by the same Divine Truth, that mighty change in 
our own barbarous ancestors, in the older times of our 
country— -of that Divine Power, which softened their fero- 
cious minds, stripped the skins of beasts and cleansed the 
savage daubings from their persons, staunched the blood of 
human victims, exposed to shame the cruelties of their pa- 
gan idolatry, brought rude man to feel the blessings of so- 
cial life and of all the meek and heavenly tempers of the 
Christian, and gave birth to those Laws and Institutions, 
which, re-acting with a benign influence on the minds and 
manners of this whole people, have rendered us, with all 
our crimes, a real blessing to the world! And now, in 
these latter days, we have a renewal of the moral miracles 
of the primitive age, and have the honour put on us, by 
sending the Gospel to the most degraded of mankind, of 
quickening and rendering efficacious, in an incalculable de- 
gree, the efforts of our country to remunerate Africa for her 
wrongs. 

But the improvement in the whole body of the Libe- 
rated Negroes assembled at Regent's Town is truly sur- 
prising. The greater number were not, indeed, sunk into 
a state of degradation so low as that of the Ebos; but the 
description already given of them will sufficiently show, 
that, on all human calculation, but little success could be 
expected; and that little, but by slow degrees. 

With what melancholy feelings Mr. Johnson surveyed 
the desolation around him, the Members heard from his 
own lips, When he took leave of the Society, at the Special 
Meeting, held in this place, in the month of November. 

But what was the condition of these people when Mr. 
Johnson left them, for a season, after the labour of three 
years? A full return had been made for the wise and be- 
nevolent measures of the Governor, and for the unwearied 
labours of their Pastor. 

The eye which beheld the people and their town but a 
few years before, would now witness a scene that would 
bespeak the energy of some mighty principle. 

The Town itself is laid out with regularity — nineteen 
streets are formed, and are made plain and level, with good 



64 APPENDIX. 

roads round the town — a large stone Church rises in the 
midst of the habitations — a Government House, a Parson^ 
age House, a Hospital, School Houses, Store Houses, a 
Bridge of several arches, some Native Dwellings, and 
other Buildings, all of stone, are either finished or on the 
point of being so. But the state of cultivation further 
manifests the industry of the people — all are farmers — 
gardens, fenced in, are attached to every dwelling — all the 
land in the immediate neighbourhood is under cultivation, 
and pieces of land even to the distance of three miles — 
there are many rice-fields; and among the other vegetables 
raised for food, are cassadas, plantains, coco, yams, coffee, 
and Indian Corn — of Fruits, they have bananas, oranges, 
limes, pine-apples, ground-nuts, guavas, and papaws — of 
Animals, there are horses, cows, bullocks, sheep, goats, 
pigs, ducks, and fowls — a daily market is held, for the sale 
of articles; and, on Saturdays, this market is large and ge- 
neral. It has been already said that all are Farmers; but 
many of them, beside the cultivation of the ground, have 
learned and exercised various trades: 50 of them are ma- 
sons and bricklayers— -40, carpenters — 30, sawyers — 30, 
shingle-makers — 20, tailors — 4, blacksmiths — and 2, butch- 
ers. In these various ways, upward of 600 of the negroes 
maintain themselves; and have been enabled, in this short 
space of time, by the fruits of their own productive indus- 
try, to relieve from all expense, on their personal account, 
that Government to which they pay the most grateful al- 
legiance. 

The appearance and manners of the people have im- 
proved in an equal degree. They are all now decently 
clothed: almost all the females have learned to make their 

own clothing — about 400 couple are married they 

were accustomed to spend their nights in dancing and 
drumming, after their heathenish fashion of their countries: 
not a drum is now left in the town — in six months, only six 
deaths occurred; while, in three months, forty-two children 
were born — not an oath had been heard in the town, to Mr. 
Johnson's knowledge, for the last twelve months; nor had 
any drunkenness been witnessed — the attendance on Pub- 
lic Worship is regular and large, three times on the Sun- 
day; on an average, not less than 1200 or 1300 Negroes, 
while Mr. Johnson's first congregation amounted but to 
nine: at morning and evening daily prayers, not less than 
500 are present — the Schools, which opened with 90 boys 
and 50 girls with 36 adults, now contain upward of 500 
scholars. 



APPENDIX. £,■ 

1 hese were great encouragements to Mr. Johnson in 
his labours: but he was not satisfied with the reformation 
of the manners of his people: he prayed for indications of 
a change of heart, and the influence of a living principle. 
Nor did he wait long. One and another began to visit him, 
burdened by a sense of their sins, to ask what they were to 
do to be saved — disclosing to him the gracious influences 
of the Holy Spirit on their hearts, in the most simple and 
touching manner. He saw persons, in every direction, be- 
fore they came to attend morning and evening daily wor- 
ship, kneeling in private prayer behind bushes and houses. 
All, without exception, wish for Baptism: but Mr. Johnson 
admits none to that ordinance till he is satisfied of their 
intelligence and integrity. All have abandoned polygamy, 
greegrees, and Devil-worship. The baptized are in the 
habit of regularly partaking of the Lord's Supper, unless 
prevented by illness; and when Mr. Johnson left, in April 
of last year, the number of Communicants amounted to 
263. The converts are earnest for the salvation of their 
country-people, and are continually going to them to per- 
suade them to embrace the Gospel: and they are equally 
anxious for their mutual edification; Mr. Johnson seldom 
visiting a sick Communicant without finding some of his 
Christian Brethren or Sisters there, employed in offices of 
devotion or charity. So striking and remarkable, indeed, 
has been the influence of the Divine Word, that Mr. John 
son has withheld from the Society many of the indications 
of grace among his Negroes, lest they should appear incre- 
dible. 

And it has been the plain and simple preaching of the 
Mercy of God, as displayed in Christ Jesus, which has 
been rendered the instrument of quickening and giving ef- 
ficacy to the benevolent measures of Government, and of 
producing this mighty change — brought home, indeed, as 
this preaching was, by the patient labours of an affectionate 
servant of the Lord. In Negro Towns, where this Word 
of Salvation has been, for want of Ministers, but unfre 
quently or irregularly preached, the Natives are far behind 
in civilization and in all the benefits of social and domes- 
tic life. Mr. Johnson's course of labour was — to preach 
Christ, as the Saviour of Sinners — at morning and evening 
daily Worship, to set forth to the people the simple truths 
of the Gospel — to follow up these instructions and prayers, 
by visiting from house to house — to reprove sin where ve» 
he witnessed it — to open to the people the miserable estnt< 





* 






6b APPENDIX. 

of a sinner, and the way of escape and deliverance by the 
grace of the Gospel. 

The testimony of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jesty to the 
state of Regent's Town is truly gratifying. They visited 
it in the beginning of April. 

Of the attendance on Public Worship, on Sundays, 
Mr. Jesty writes— 

At ten o'clock, I saw a sight which at once astonished and 
delighted me. The bell at the Church rung for Divine Service; 
on which Mr. Johnson's well-regulated Schools of Boys and 
Girls walked, two and two, to the Church. 

The eagerness of the inhabitants to hear the Word, will ap- 
pear from their early attendance on the means of grace. It is 
true, there is a bell in the steeple of the Church; but it is of lit- 
tle use at Regent's Town; for the Church is generally filled half- 
an-hour before the bell tolls. The greatest attention is paid dur- 
ing the Service. Indeed, I witnessed a Christian Congregation 
in a heathen land— a people feari ng God and working righteous- 
ness. The tear of godly sorrow rolled down many a coloured 
cheek, and showed the contrition of a heart that felt its own vile- 
ness. 

At three o'clock in the afternoon, there was again a very full 
attendance; so that scarce an individual was to be seen through- 
out the town; so eager are they to hear the Word, and to feed 
(Sdrthat living bread that came down from heaven! 

At six we met again; and although many had to come from 
a considerable distance and up a tremendous hill, I did not per- 
ceive any decrease of number, or any weariness in their attend- 
ance on the Means of Grace. 

Never did I witness such a Congregation, in a professing 
Christian Land; nor ever behold such apparent sincerity and 
brotherly love. 

Of the Monthly Meeting, held on the following Even- 
ing, Mr. Jesty says — 

Mr. Johnson and myself entered the names of subscribers, 
and received their mites: and I cannot but notice, that, in on< 
minute after Mr. Johnson and myself were ready to receive the| 
money and names, we were surrounded by several hundred hum- 
ble friends to Missionary Exertions, crying, as it were with one 
voice, "Massa, take my money;" Massa, Massa, take mine;" 
" Eight coppers, one moon." It was, indeed, a pleasing sight,) 
to behold a people, once led captive at the will of Satan, devoted 
to gross superstition and folly, embracing their greegrees and) 
trusting in them for defence, and once expending all the monev 



APPENDIX, 67 

that they could spare in the purchase of these false gods, now 
conquered by the love and power of Him that taketh away the 
sin of the world; and now, with cheerful and renewed hearts, 
giving of their little substance to aid those means which, by the 
blessing of God, will communicate the privileges of the Gospel 
to their countrymen also. 

From these few poor and once injured and despised Africans, 
we collected that evening about 21. 7s. Oh, my countrymen, 
fellow christians in highly-favoured England, you who have 
multiplied and daily renewed comforts and blessings, Go, and do 
likewise! 



i 



An Abstract o£ the Journal of the He\. 3. B. 
Cates, one of the Missionaries from Sierra 
Leone to Grand liassa. 

March 6.— At six o'clock, we proceeded to a small town 
at the bar of St. John's River. Davis read a few verses of 
the Second Chapter of Isaiah, and addressed the people. 
They were attentive, and willing to hear; but could say 
nothing as to the probability of a person being allowed to 
settle among them as a Teacher. 

A woman came toward me, and looked at me with at- 
tention for some time. I took one of the plates of Mowhee 
out of my desk, and held it toward her: she screamed, and 
ran back. Being encouraged by my beckoning, she at last 
ventured to come a little nearer. I threw it upon the ground, 
as close to her as I could. She started back again, but 
soon approached near enough to touch it; and at length 
took it up, but held it at arm's length from her. After^e- 
ing convinced that it was harmless, she viewed it a long 
time, laughing and shewing much pleasure; and at last 
made signs to be allowed to take it to shew the other peo- 
ple. I assented, and soon heard much screaming and laugh- 
ing at the lifeless stranger. 

At two o'clock, we procured a canoe, and crossed the 
river in search of John White, the Headman, who was to 
conduct us to King John. After walking about three miles 
on the sand-beach, we arrived at a town of Kroomen and 
Fishermen. Here we learnt that John White's Town was 
some miles further on, but that he was gone to King John's 



63 APPENDIX. 

Town to attend the funeral of a deceased Headman. We 
set off, therefore, for the King's Town, to the great disap- 
pointment of the Kroomen, who longed for a little more of 
our tobacco, and made a cowardly attempt to stop one of 
the men that happened to be behind; but Tamba being near, 
they thought the muscles of his arm were not made to be 
played with, and moved off. 

Some of the women at this town having but a scanty 
portion of cloth, carry their children in a little wicker bas- 
ket, suspended at their backs. 

We had not gone far before a man came after us from 
John White, saying that he would meet us at a small town 
in the way. We proceed thither, and found him waiting. 
He conducted us to King John's Town. 



At Grand liassa— 

King John's Town is about six miles from the sand- 
beach, in a fertile country. The soil appears good; and 
though now in the midst of the Dry Season, there is plenty 
of grass to support the numerous cattle which graze round 
the town. The houses are generally circular, the roofs 
commencing at about three feet from the ground: many of 
them are carried up, in a conical shape, to the height of 
twenty or twenty-five feet; the top being defended by a turf 
of earth, on which a plant resembling house-leek grows. 
They are better built than any that we have lately seen. 
Mud walls and matted floors are common. 

Our arrival was soon noised abroad; when men, women, 
&nd children ran together to look at the White Man. I 
was sitting in a large Palaver House, which in less than ten 
minutes was so filled with people, that the heat became 
quite oppressive; while the noise was such, that a Stentor 
must have despaired of being heard. I was obliged to 
move into the open air, where I sat nearly half an hour to 
gratify their curiosity. It was amusing to observe the va- 
rious countenances which surrounded me. Many of the 
men came to shake my hand; while the women pressed on 
the shoulders of the men, and thrust the children under 
their arms and legs in all directions, with various indica- 
tions of surprise or fear. After the crowd of men and 
women had retired, the children seemed determined to in- 
dulge a little longer in the novel sight; and moved round 
me, at a f^w yards' distance, to survey both back and front, 
as we would do a chained wild-beast. 



APPENDIX. 69 

The approach of the King was now announced. Some 
mats were spread; and a wooden-seated chair, which had 
lost its back, was brought for him to sit upon. The King 
is a feeble old man; but possesses his faculties much better 
than I expected. He was dressed in a long robe of coun- 
try cloth, made in the Mandingo style; and had on his 
head a scarlet and blue cloth-cap, ornamented with van- 
dyke and tassels. By the help of a staff, he was able to 
walk to his seat; and his sight was sufficient to distinguish 
me very readily. He inquired after my health, my name, 
and my business. Being satisfied on these points, he said 
he was glad to see me, and to hear what I told him. As 
it was getting dark, I deferred a longer interview till the 
morning, telling the King, that if he would then assemble 
his people, we would read the Book which we had brought, 
and talk to them about it. He cheerfully assented; and, 
after a little more conversation respecting the places which 
we had visited, whence we came, and the doctrine that we 
taught, he went away. 

The people then began to express their opinions about 
us. That we should have walked from Sierra Leone, 
seemed almost incredible: and, in order to get rid of this 
difficulty, one man stated it to be his opinion, that I came 
down from heaven; which he thought, of course, a shorter 
journey. 

The King supplied us with a house; and, soon after, 
sent a large bowl of beef and soup; but as it had too large a 
portion of palm-oil for my taste, the men enjoyed the be- 
nefit of it. In an open shed, near the house appropriated 
to our use, was the unburied body of the deceased Head- 
man, as they reported. Before we began our Meeting for 
Prayer, the people had assembled at this shed, with drums 
and horns, howling and dancing in the extravagant manner 
which we had before witnessed. I expected that we should 
scarcely be able to hear the voice of prayer for their noise; 
but, before the first Hymn was finished, they heard us, and 
left their dancing to come and look at us; nor did they be- 
gin any more during the night, to my great comfort. 

March 7, 1819. Sunday. — The King sent word, that, 
by eight o'clock, he wanted to hear our Book. I went, 
therefore, with Tamba and Davis. We found him seated 
on a leopard's skin, on a mat on the ground; in a small court 
surrounded with nouses, which were connected by mud 
walls, and through which there were three entrances. His 
head, in addition to the red cap, was now surrounded with 
an enormpus quantity of leopard's teeth tied together. 



APPENDIX. 



There did not appear less than two hundred, ****&*■ «f 
wM* must havfbeen severely felt byte «'««*£££ 

A.bout thirty people were admitted with us, and the doors 
were shuYVJd part of the Eighteenth Chapter of S . 
Matthew, and addressed them; Davis repeating m Bassa, 
what I said. They were very attentive; and seemed th ank 
ful for the instruction given them, and much surprised at 
seeing a countryman of their own so far elevated above 
them Having concluded, I told the King that I should 
like n the forenoon, to speak to his peop e more pmAckl) 
n some place where all who wished might attend. He 
said, he was willing, and should be glad himself to be pre- 

SeDt i had not long returned to the house before the King 
followed me; and* having ordered his peop e to . cattha 
small bull, he presented it to me, begging that I vould ac 
Sit, and order one of my people to tall it. I thanked 
him- but said, as there would be much more than we could 
eTwhile it would be good, I would rather decline so 
bountiful a present. If that were the case, he said, I should 
take as much as I liked, and he would take the rest. I 
again thanked him, but still declined: it being Sunday, I 
did not like that the men should be so employed. All, 
however, would not avail, but take part [must. The 
Kine therefore ordered his people to kill it; and, when dead, 
would not take a piece till I had chosen which part I thought 
nroper. I complied, and took about a quarter, but he would 
Lake it up nearly half. He inquired whether our great 
knowledge was acquired at all by particular diet. Being 
told thaut was not; but that all which we knew naturally, 
others were equally capable of attaining by a little study; 
and that all which we knew spiritually, God could teach him 
and his people; he seemed surprised. »«■__:__ 

It was twelve o'clock before we were ready for Morning 
Service, which we held in the Palaver House. I had no 
sooner entered, than the people flocked together in crowds, 
to hear the surprising things about which we talked: in a tew 
minutes, the King came; when between two and three hun- 
dred persons seated themselves around, and were silent be- 
yond what I could have expected from such untutored 



people. 



We began by singing part of the Nineteenth Psalm. I 
then prayed; and William Davis explained the meaning of 
each of these Services to them. I then read the Second 
Chapter of Genesis; and spoke briefly on the Creation ot 
Alan in a state of happiness, and contrasted it with his pre- 



APPENDIX. n 

sent state; leaving William Davis to enlarge on these to- 
pics. Among other things, as a proof of man's departure 
from justice, he stated their custom of killing the people of 
a whole town, if they can, for the offence of one man, and 
contrasted it with the justice and mercy enjoined by the 
Word of God; on which the whole congregation, who had 
hitherto been silent, set up two or three loud shouts, as if 
they had been electrified. On inquiry, I found that these 
were shouts of approbation, and meant that what we said 
was very good. As soon as silence was restored, Davis 
finished his discourse; and, after singing the Hundred and 
Seventeenth Psalm, and praving, we concluded the service; 
promising to meet them again before night, as they seemed 
still disposed to hear. 

In the interval between morning and afternoon service, 
I asked permission to see the body of the deceased Head- 
man, which was readily granted, and I was conducted to it 
by some of the principal men. We entered the shed at one 
end, which was unclosed. There were two or three women 
in it. It was furnished with drums and war horns, and de- 
corated with mats. At the furthest end was a large cur- 
tain of handkerchiefs, sewed as a screen, to keep the body 
from public view. This screen being raised, a figure was 
seen, in a sitting posture, dressed in a robe of country-cloth, 
with shoes and stockings, and an enormously high red cap. 
What should have been a face was covered with a hand- 
kerchief. A large box, covered with a leopard's skin, 
served for a footstool. This I was told was the dead man. 
I smiled; and observed that its want of proportion, and its 
whole shape and make, satisfied me that it was a man of 
their own making. They did not pretend to think that 
keeping this figure had any effect on the man whom it re- 
presented; but merely observed that it was the country- 
fashion. They denied ever killing Slaves, to bury with a. 
body. After a few observations on the uncertainty of life, 
and the unchangeable state of the dead, I left the shed, 
much better pleased at finding a false, than a real body. 

At five o'clock, we had afternoon service. I read the 
third chapter of Genesis; and explained to them the Fall 
of Man, and the curse of God incurred thereby; and then, 
directing them to Jesus as the all-sufficient Saviour, con- 
cluded with Prayer. They were quite willing to hear, and 
professed to approve what was said. The poor old King, 
especially, seemed desirous that himself and his peep 1 
should have instruction. 



T2 APPENDIX. 

i 

March 8, 1819.— They kept up druming and dancing 
to a very late hour last night, and deprived me of rest* 
The King came early this morning, to ask after my health; 
and to tell me that he liked the proposal which I had made 
of sending William Davis to teach them. 

Four or five times in the course of the day, I was called 
onto read to them; and their desire to hear continued una- 
bated. They busied themselves in devising means of re- 
membering the different parts of Scripture which I read. 
The King begged hard that I would stay till all his Head- 
men should have time to arrive and hear. Toward night I 
was seized with pain in the head, which prevented my go- 
ing out again. 

March 9. — My head being much worse, I was obliged 
to keep my bed almost all the morning. About one o'clock 
I made an attempt to read to the people, but was unable 
to sit, and had to leave Davis to conclude. 

March 10. — I continued very unwell most part of the 
day; but, toward night was a little better. I took the op- 
portunity of going to the King to hear his final determina- 
tion, which he gave, by assuring me that he should be glad 
to receive and afford protection to William Davis, to live 
as a Teacher among them. He requested that I would 
leave him a Book, to state what I had told him: with this 
I complied, and took down his answer in a Book for 
myself. 

I then told the King that I purposed to set out home 
in the morning, to which he agreed. I had first thought 
of going to the next river; but, finding that King John's 
territory extended thither, as well as to a considerable dis- 
tance northward, and as I had now seen most of the Head- 
men from thence, who all approved of our plan, I thought 
it unnecessary to prolong the journey. 

There is abundant room for as many Teachers as we 
can send them, and there appears a great disposition to re- 
ceive them. 

March 11. — The King came early to see me, and bid 
me farewell. He gave me one of his war-horns, as t had 
expressed a wish to possess it. 

This morning I was favoured with a day-light view of 
his Devil. I was thankful that he had prevented his roar- 
ing, and the drumming and dancing, for the last two 
nights. 

The Devil is a curious figure. It is a small man, or a 

boy, dressed in a garment of dried grass or rushes, which 

overs him. and reaches to the ground. His nrms and feet 



APPENDIX. ft 

;ae concealed. A white country-cloth covers his shoulders' 
Round his head, and tied under his chin, are two or three 
cotton handkerchiefs. The face, which is small, is fright- 
ful. The mouth and nose are black. Two large white 
teeth project far beyond the lips. A black patch, from tha 
bottom of the mouth to the top of the nose, between the 
eyes, forms nearly a regular triangle, leaving a white trian- 
gle on each side to represent the cheeks. The eyes are 
large and black. Immediately over them is bound a row 
Of coarse shells. On the head is a red cap, which reaches 
four or five feet in height, and is surrounded with a plume 
of feathers. 

Sometimes this figure would move about in a stately 
style; and, at others, it would turn into all sorts of postures, 
and strike the plume of feathers on the ground; uttering a 
noise like that occasioned by blowing through a pipe, tlu 
mouth of which is immersed in water. 

I tempted the King> in every Way I could think of, to 
sell me this Devil, that I might carry him out of the coun- 
try, but could not prevail. He said that it belonged to the 
people, and they would kill him if he let it go. He was 
evidently embarrassed by my request; and as I found he 
would not comply, I dropped the matter. 

Soon after seven o'clock, we left his town, on our way 
back, having repeated our mutual desire for the instruction 
of the Bass a Country. 



Ch\ Wis return, Mr. Cates addressed a Letter 
to t\\e Secretary, dated April the 19tti, from 
^v\ilc\i tlie Committee mtt extract a tew 

passages 



'C •_.. 



After experiencing manifold mercies for ten weeks, we have 
been brought back in health and safety. The prospect of suc- 
cess you will learn from my Journal. 

In several places there is a willingness to receive Missiona- 
ries, particularly in the Bassa Country, of which William Da- 
vis is a native. During four days that we remained at the 
King's Town, I was called on, three or four times in a day, to 
read and explain the Word of God to them; while they heard 
with marked attention, and devised every means that they could 
to retain it in their memories. The Headmen from the differ 

10 



74 



APPENDIX.' 



ent Towns in King John's dominions assembled, and consulted 
oh the propriety of receiving Teachers. There was not a sin- 
gle dissentient voice; but, on the contrary, many (among whom 
the King waS foremost) were anxious that we should speedily 
send some person to them. The King willingly acquiesced in 
a proposal which I made to him, to place William Davis among 
his countrymen as a Teacher; and, though he would have been 
glad to receive an European* acknowledged the propriety of 
commencing the Mission with an African. Should the people 
show the sincerity of their desire to receive instruction by a dili- 
gent attendance on him, it would be an encouragement after- 
ward to send an European. 

There are many other places where Missionaries would be 
gladly received, but they do not appear so well suited to begin 
With an African; as the principal men have, from long acquaint- 
ance with Englishmen, made such progress in civilization, as to 
possess general knowledge superior to any of our Christian Ne- 
groes. This is the case particularly at the Galinas, where 
there are some families who received a liberal education in 
England, during the triumph of the SlaVe Trade: they are still 
much addicted to this nefarious traffic; but are so far convinced 
of the advantage of education, that they would receive a White 
Missionary, though they would treat contemptuously any at 
tempt to send a liberated Slave to them. 



APPENDIX. 75 

RESEARCHES & IMPROVEMENTS IN AFRICA, 



"Extracts from tine Royal Gazette, published, 
at "Freetown, Sierra Leone. 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23d, 1821. 
Intelligence from the Expedition to Teemboo y 

UNDER MR. o'BEIRNE. 

WE have great pleasure in being enabled to state, that 
he information received from Mr. O'Beirne is of the 
most gratifying nature, and furnishes strong grounds to 
hope for a satisfactory result to his mission. 

Serjeant Tuft, who accompanied the mission in the 
capacity of interpreter of native languages as far as the 
Limba country, left Mr. O'Beirne at Laiah, the first town 
of that territory, on the 10th inst. Laiah is about twenty 
miles from the river which bounds the Timmanee country 
on that side. The native Chiefs had hitherto universally 
behaved with the greatest respect and kindness towards 
him. The Chief of Port-Logo especially had manifested 
the most earnest zeal to forward the wishes of the govern- 
ment of this colony. He accompanied Mr. O'Beirne to 
the 8th, when he left him at Woolla, and sent his brother 
to accompany him to Kookoona, in order to introduce him 
to the head-men of the place. 

The Chiefs of the Limba country showed similar dis- 
positions. Pa Kinky, the head-man of Laiah, gave him 
aid to carry his baggage, and was^to acccompany him some 
way forward. Mr. O'Beirne mentions Brima Yarri, 
Chief of Woolla, as a man of very superior intelligence, 
and of excellent principles and dispositions. From him, 
next to the Chief of Port-Logo, Mr. O'Beirne had expe- 
rienced the most liberal support and the best treatment. 
There was reason to think that a small present, judiciously 
applied, would remove any latent jealousy with which the 
Limba Chiefs may be supposed to be impressed, touching 
the contributions which they levy on travellers. It was 
partly with a view to a satisfactory arrangement on this 
head that Serjeant Tuft left Mr. O'Beirne, whom he will 
go to meet about the same place at the expected approach 
}f his return. Mr. O'Beirnf, we understand, speaks in 



,o APPENDIX 

the highest terms of Tuft's intelligence and ability in con-* 
ducting the palavers with the natives. Mr. O'Beirne ex- 
pected to arrive on the 12th at Kookoona, the town noticed 
in our former publications as belonging to Almamy Amu- 
rah, of Fouricaria; from which place he intended to dis- 
patch another messenger. We anxiously await the arrival 
of this messenger; for it has been already observed, that 
after passing that place, no impediment nor delay need be 
apprehended until the arrival at the Foulah frontier, where, 
it is conceived, it would be necessary to stop, in order to 
arrange for the subsequent advance to Teemboo. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 21st, 1821. 

ON Wednesday morning last, wc had the gratification 
to see Mr. O'Beirne arrive safe, and in good health from 
his expedition to Teembo. His appearance in his travel- 
ling costume, was somewhat grotesque. His dress con- 
sisted of jacket and trowsers of blue baft, with a check shirt 
loose at the collar; a short sword was belted on round his 
waist, and shoes, improved by travelling in that way only, 
admitted more than one free current of air to cool his feet. 
But the most striking part was a huge Foulah hat made of 
small cane, interwoven and plaited together with the out- 
side fibres of that plantj an oval pointed high crown, was 
decorated with a loop and button of leather, to which the 
broad brim could be strapped up occasionally, or the whole 
machine be made fast under the chin, according to the ex- 
igencies of wind and weather. A fine growth of well-comb 
ed beard and whiskers will serve to finish our brief outline. 
We trust, however, that some of Mr. O'Beirne's friends, 
who are known to possess eminent talents in that line, have 
taken care to preserve a correct drawing, as one of the 
best means of giving a just idea of a sight so seldom seen, 
as that of an European traveller's first appearance on his 
return to an European settlement after visiting distant 
countries in the interior of Africa. 

Mr. O'Beirne was accompanied from PortrLogo by 
Mr. Laing, Adjutant of his Majesty's 2nd. West India 
regiment, who went up purposely to meet him on hearing 
of his return to Port Logo: Mr. Laing, we understand, has 
-offered his services for a journey to Sego and Tombuctoo, 
by way of Port Logo and Teembo. Mr. Laing will proba- 
bly avail himself of the opportunity of the return of the mes- 
senger of the king of Sego who follows Mr. O'Beirne, and 
proceed as far as Sego with him. The messenger of the 
king of Sego brings a fine horse, a present from that Sove 



APPENDIX. 77 

reign to the governor of this colony. We have not yet 
heard any thing more of the contents of the letter borne by 
him than what we have already mentioned. 

Almamy Abdool has sent down, in company with Mr 
O'Beirne, his nephew, Omaroo, a person of great authori- 
ty in the Foulah nation, charged with the completion of the 
arrangements for a regular commercial intercourse with 
the colony through Port Logo. The only impediment to 
that intercourse arises from the town of Kookoona, which 
belongs to the unfriendly chief, Almamy Amurah, of Fou- 
ricaria: but the passage through that place may either be 
obtained by amicable adjustment, or the place may be al- 
together avoided by making a circuitous march of no great 
extent, and returning to the main path on friendly ground. 

Omaroo is accompanied by his lady, who is represent- 
ed as a fine specimen of the Teembo beauties, remarkable 
for their fine persons and expressive features. 

We are glad to learn, that arrangements are already 
made for the disposal of the cattle and other commodities 
brought down for sale by the Foulah traders, on terms sa- 
tisfactoryjto them and favorable to the purchasers. This is 
a very material point at the commencement of a trading 
intercourse; as the mutual satisfaction and reciprocal advan- 
tage felt at the outset must tend, more than any other 
thing, to render the connection solid and permanent. 

SATURDAY, MAY 5th, 1821. 

ON Saturday, the 28th April, a grand palaver was held 
at government house, attended on one side by the governor 
and members of council, Dr. O'Beirne, recently arrived 
from the mission to Teembo, civil and military officers, 
yjrincipal merchants and inhabitants; and on the other side 
by the Foulah chief, Omarroo Kroo, nephew and repre- 
sentative of Almamy of Teembo, with the other chiefs of 
the Foulah deputation; AH Karlie, chief of the Port Logo, 
Yakoba, deputed by Fa Seena, chief of Kookoona, and a 
number of other chiefs of the towns on the new path from 
Port Logo to Fouta Jallon. About one hundred of these 
visitors were present, including twenty chiefs.— There was 
also a deputation from Dalla Mahommadoo, at the head of 
which was his brother. 

The object of the palaver was, in the first place, an in- 
terchange of amity and a reciprocal declaration of alliance 
connected with the establishment of the new path; and next, 
the arrangement of a general basis of trade between the 
colony and Fouta Jallon. 



V8 APPENDIX. 

The governor, through the interpretation of William 
Tuft, colonial interpreter, and of Moosa Kanta, interpreter 
to the mission, conveyed to Omarroo Kroo the expression 
of his acknowledgments for the favorable reception grant- 
ed to Mr. O'Beirne at Teembo; and of his desire to show 
corresponding favor to the members of the mission from 
Aim amy. He trusted that they found themselves as much 
at home at Sierra Leone as if they were at Teembo. He 
added the full assurance of his satisfaction at the opening 
of the new path; which it was hoped would lead to the es- 
tablishment of a regular and mutually beneficial intercourse 
between the colony and the Foulah nation. All the arti- 
cles of export which the country afforded, would find a 
ready and advantageous sale here; and every article of im- 
port which the Foulah people could want in return would 
be obtained here on the cheapest terms. In the former line 
of trade by the Rio Pongos and Rio Nunez, the inter- 
change was managed by intermediate agents, who made a 
two-fold profit on the country produce and on the European 
goods: all these intermediate charges would be saved by 
the direct intercourse, and the benefit of the saving would be 
entirely with the Foulahs. The Foulah people would 
therefore see an obvious advantage in resorting to this 
market and the people of the intermediate towns, and their 
chiefs, Ali Karlie of Port Logo, Fa Seena of Kookoona, 
and the others, in giving free access and regress, and pro- 
tection to the traders on the route. He had only to re- 
new the expressions of his earnest desire to perfect the re- 
lations of amity, and hope that a connection of amicable 
intercourse and mutually beneficial commerce would pro? 
ceed with continued increase to the satisfaction of both 
countries. 

Mr. O'Beirne, through the same interpreters, made his 
personal acknowledgments for the kind attentions which he 
experienced at Teembo, and from the chiefs on the path; 
and referred to the explanation now made by the governor 
as confirming what he had himself communicated in his 
several palavers at Teembo, and in the other places as he 
advanced and returned. 

The Hon. K. Macaulay proposed some questions, and 
offered some further explanations touching the proposed 
trade, and more particularly touching the purchase of the 
articles now brought down. 

The Chief Justice made a few observations on the mu- 
tual advantage and gratification of a new and direct line of 
peaceful commerce, which the Foulah people would extend 
on one side to this colony, and on the other to the banks ci 



APPENDIX. 70 

the Niger, giving to the interior of Africa the European 
goods brought here at superior advantage, and in return^ 
sending hence over all the seas the produce of those remote 
Afri can countries. — He added, that the brother of Dalla 
Mahommadoo would tell them what faithful and good 
friends the governor and the gentlemen of the colony were. 

The brother of Dalla Mahommadoo answered this ap- 
peal by repeating the expressions of experienced friendship 
and confidence which he had already communicated to the 
strangers in his previous conferences. 

The palaver on the part of the colony being closed the 
chiefs answered in regular succession. 

Omarro Kroo, by a young man of his train, who always 
speaks for him, and who expressed himself with much 
steadiness and fluency, gave the fullest assurances on the 
part of Almamy of Teembo, and of the Foulah people, of 
their satisfaction at the opening of the path. They had al- 
ways desired that opening, and were rejoiced now to see it 
accomplished. They found themselves as much at ease at 
Sierra Leone as if they were at Teembo. 

They earnestly desired the cultivation of trade, and they 
hoped that a free intercourse would be speedily extended to^ 
Sego, and still farther into the interior. This was said for 
the Foulah people. Almamy had himself no concern with 
trade: his pursuit was war, which he carried on for the pur- 
pose of converting the unbelievers to the faith of the Pro- 
phet. He requests the governor to send some superior 
means of destroying the towns of these infidels, and of com- 
pelling them to submission. 

The letters of Almamy to the governor were read by the 
same youth and translated by the interpreter: they were to 
the same effect* 

AH Karlie, chief of Port Logo; and Yakoba of Koo- 
koona, spoke with equal satisfaction. 

At the instance of Omarroo, the governor made a pre- 
sent of a handsome fowling piece to Yakoba. This pre- 
sent was passed, according to the routine of country eti- 
quette, through the hands of Omarroo, and of a succession 
of two or three others, of whom Ali Karlie was one. It 
was then placed in the hands of the public orator of Yako- 
ba's party, who stood up, holding it, and made a long ha- 
rangue upon the occasion, which the interpreter did no 
think it necessary to translate. 

The gun was sent to Yakoba's residence by another 
party. 

The palaver then broke up amid exnressions of genera 1 
content. 






SO APPENDIX. 

On two evenings in the course of the week some shells 
were thrown which excited much astonishment in the stran- 
gers. 

On Wednesday the chiefs went on board H. M. Ship 
Myrmidon, where they were amused by discharges of guns, 
and afterwards by firing with ball at a canoe moored at a 
convenient distance. 

The arrangements of their trade were finally concluded 
on Friday, at the house of Messieurs Macauly and Babing- 
ton. They may be expected to depart without further de- 
lay on their return, taking with them the presents prepared 
by order of the governor. 

SATURDAY, JUNE 9th, 1821. 

The Foulah chiefs, and the other native chiefs and 
headmen by whom they were accompanied hither, set out 
on Sunday last on their return to their respective places ol 
residence. All those who were of any consideration had 
received liberal presents, with which they expressed them- 
selves highly gratified. Very handsome presents were also 
sent to Almamy of Timbo, and to the principal Chiefs of 
his court, whose favour may be of importance to future 
travellers from the colony. 

Mr. L a ing adjutant of his Majesty's 2nd. W. I. Regi- 
ment, who has volunteered his services for an expedition to 
Sego and thence to Tombuctoo, if circumstances should 
prove inviting, accompanies the returning Chiefs as far as 
Port-Logo, in order to cultivate their friendship, and to 
accustom himself to their habits and manners, preparatory 
to the commencement of his journey; which, we understand, 
is to take place immediately at the breaking up of the 
rains. — Although no certain calculation can be made as to 
the time when this breaking up may be expected, it may be 
is reasonably hoped that it will occur this year much earlier 
than usual, the rains having set in unusually early. 

From the first day of the present month, we have ex- 
perienced frequent and strong tornadoes; and some steady 
falls of rain, unaccompanied by wind, have had an appear- 
ance somewhat indicating the approach of the settled wet 
season. 

It is true that these very early rains may, as in the last 
year, be followed by intervals of fine weather, which may 
again be introductory to second rains of very late duration. 
Mr. Laing will, we trust, be, at all events, prepared to set out 
early; for the rains arc known to cease, as well as to com- 
mence, much earlier in the interior than toward the coast 



APPENDIX. 81 

The success of Mr. O'Beirne will, we are confident, ex- 
cite a spirit of emulation in many others to explore Africa 
in various quarters, as it has in Mr. Laing to pursue the 
same route to a greater extent, and a view to more impor- 
tant discoveries and more enlarged connections. We look 
with particular interest to the expeditions from this colony; 
and we are confident that, with common prudence in the 
management, they will fully justify all that we have said, 
in our various observarions on the subject, of the superior 
advantages which this settlement presents fbr exploring 
what is yet to be discovered, and for bringing into regular 
intercourse and settled connection, nations, hitherto scarce- 
ly known beyond the mere reports of travellers, collected 
from the hearsay of others whom they have met almost in 
the first stages of their journeys towards those hitherto in- 
accessible regions. 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1820. 

It is with peculiar satisfaction we have this day the plea- 
sure of laying before our readers a statement of the Exports 
to Great Britain from our Settlement of Bathurst, St. Mary's, 
for the year terminating the 31st ultimo. Comments on 
this document might, indeed, be deemed superfluous, pro- 
claiming, as it does, trumpet-tongued, the beneficient effects 
of British protection and British legislation. When we con- 
template the progress of this establishment, so recently form- 
ed — the rapidly increasing extent of its export trade ; feel- 
ings the most gratifying are excited, — let the bane of Africa, 
and the opprobrium of Europe, the Slave-trade, cease — let 
the plundering of her coasts and the kidnapping of her chil» 
dren terminate;— and what may we not anticipate? We ad- 
duce our Gambia Settlement as a gratifying instance. A few 
years — we might say a few months, have elapsed, since this 
detestable traffic, in all its horrors, desolated them; blasting, 
by its baneful influence, every effort of the unhappy inha- 
bitants to meliorate their wretched condition. Mark the 
happy change— Lucrative and honorable sources of traffic 
daily develope themselves. The benignant influence of free- 
dom continues extending over the surrounding nations: law- 
less hordes, whose sole subsitence was derived from the 
plunder and sale of their brethren, now apply themselves to 
peaecful industry. The island of St. Mary's, formerly a de- 
serted uninhabited wilderness, now, contains a Well orga° 
nized British establishment. 

11 



62 



APPENDIX. 



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APPENDIX. 

SATURDAY, MAY 12th, 1821. 

The gum-trade at Portendick, we are happy to state, 
had a most auspicious commencement. The whole supply, 
For the purchase of which goods were sent, had already been 
obtained. This, we understand, was only about thirty tons; 
for it was thought expedient not to commence the specula- 
tion on too large a scale: — it is found that almost any 
quantity may he had. This facility may propably be occa- 
sioned, for the moment, by the quarrel between the French 
and the Moors ; but if the opportunity be improved, the 
advantages derivable from it may be permanently realized. 
The brigantine Tlambletonian, which went up to the Gambia 
from this place for a cargo, would present an inducement 
for extending the enterprize upon which the merchants of 
St. Mary's would probably be disposed to act. 

SATURDAY, JUNE 9th, 1321. 

By letters from the Gambia, of date the 25th ultimo, we 
learn with much satisfaction that Omar, the Prime Minis- 
ter of the, Trarzhar Moors, had arrived at Bathurst for the 
purpose of making arrangements with the merchants for 
the supply of Gum Arabic at Portendick. He manifested 
the greatest anxiety to establish this trade with the English 
on the firmest basis. Upwards of twenty tons of gum had 
arrived, and the u Young Frederick" was taken up for ano- 
ther trip. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 21st, 1821. 

[Extracts from Private Letters ] 
Bathurst, St. Manfs, Gambia, 18th March. 

A very respectable and intelligent trader just arrived 
froth a commercial expedition up the river as far as Kyhp, 
above 500 miles from this place, states that, according t » 
the best information that he could collect, not near as many 
slaves have gone from the river this year as during the 
past; and that native slave traders do not know what to do 
with the many they have at times. The slaves are taken 
over land to Bissao, and those procured lower down the 
river are often conveyed to a Portuguese settlement; or 
rather a small trade factory in the Cassamanca river cab- 
led Sicinstrow: but in some instances these also are 



84 APPENDIX.. 

ried over land to the Portuguese settlements at Bissao, and 
Cacheo. 

Above Kyha, and even lower down, the trade of the 
river has been interrupted, and the price of produce has 
been increased by a war which the natives of Kabu, who 
are Mandingoes living on the bank much higher up than 
Kyba, have made on the natives of N'Yani, whose coun- 
try is on the opposite side of the river. They made war 
for the pnrpose of procuring slaves. The Kabu people killed 
all they secured above twenty years of age, and only se- 
cured for the rascals at Bissao the little girls and boys. 
They attack a village, plunder it, and secure as many people 
as they can; and on these attacks, which are generally 
made in the night, many are killed on both sides. The 
N'Yani people never take slaves to the European slave fac- 
tories; but they dispose of them for horses, and to be em- 
ployed as domestic servants among themselves, or among 
the natives of the other parts of the country. The Kabu 
people prevent the N'Yani from crossing the river and 
carrying their slaves to the Portuguese. 

Two days before we came to anchor here, we fell in 
with a very pretty brigantine under French colors. It was 
the noted Marie Paul, already noticed in the Sierra Leone 
Gazette, bound, as the Captain said, to the river Cassa- 
manca for corn. The officers of the Snapper examined the 
papers. It is ascertained here that she carried off a cargo 
of slaves from Bissao to Martinique about the end of the 
year; and it is fully believed that she is now bound to the 
same place for another supply: she was last from Goree to 
St. Jago; but it is only a few weeks ago that she was at 
Senegal, and it is not many days since emissaries were in 
this river, endeavouring to collect slaves to be taken for 
her to the Cassamanca river. This Marie Paul actually 
belongs to four individuals who are pretty well known to 
be connected with the civil administration of the French 
African settlements. And further I am assured, that the 
merchants of the French settlements are all more or less 
engaged in the traffic. They form themselves into com- 
panies, and there is not a person who possesses a little pro- 
perty that is not a slave holder. 



APPENDIX, bv 



Accounts from the English Colony in South 

Africa. 

Monday, November 19th, 1821. 

The intelligence from this colony, is contradictory, some 
accounts say, that the new colonists were generally dis- 
heartened with their enterprize. Others, that many of 
them had surmounted the dangers and fatigues incident to 
new settlements, were beginning to live comfortably, and 
were rapidly subduing the forests and wild lands. This 
colony is said to be from 520 to 560 miles long, and from 
200 to 315 miles wide. The English families which have 
emigrated here, are stated to be 5000. Before they arrived 
the population consisted of 22,000 whites (principally 
Dutch) and 38,000 Africans, principally Hottentons and 
CaiFres. The British Missionaries are said to be very ac- 
tive and successful in this region. 

Boston Centinel. 

FROM THE MORNING CHRONICLE, Sefit. 18th, 1821, 

We have received Bermuda papers to the 22d of July. It ap- 
pears from one of them that a new source of commerce has 
arisen in the West India islands of much importance, as re- 
gards privation of intercourse with the United States, under the 
operation of the Navigation act. Cargoes of corn have arrived 
from the coast of Africa, which will amply repay the importer 
at the price of one quarter of a dollar the bushel. 

It is described to be of a good quality and similar to the flat 
corn of the Northern States of America, but of a kernel smaller 
and whiter. 

REMARKS. 

The preceding extracts show the increase of an honorable 
tJ*ade, and of a lucrative commerce on the coast of Africa; also 
the projects of improvement, the result of researches into the 
interior, all which have contributed to effect much good, 
to meliorate the sufferings of thousands, and prevent the 
murder of many, and what is more to propagate the gos- 
pel of God in a heathen land. 



86 APPENDIX. 

SUPPESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. 

After the enaction of numerous laws, for the suppression 
of the slave trade, on the 15th of May, 1820; an act was 
passed which contained the following sections, &c. he. 

Extract from " An act to continue in force c An act to protect the com - 
merce of the United States, and punish the crime of piracy,' and also to 
make further provision for punishing the crime of piracy." Passed May 
15, 182U. 

Sect. 4. And be it further enacted, That if any citizen of 
the United States, being of the crew or ship's company, of any 
foreign ship or vessel engaged in the slave trade, or any person 
whatever, being of the crew or ship's company, of any ship or 
vessel owned in whole or in part, or navigated for, orin behalf of, 
any citizen or citizens of the United Sates, shall land, from any 
such ship or vessel, and, on any foreign shore, seize any negro or 
mulatto, not held to service or labour by the laws of either of the 
states or territories of the United States, with intent to make 
such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall decoy, or forcibly bring 
or carry, or shall receive such negro or mulatto on board any 
such ship or vessel, with intent as aforesaid, such citizen or per- 
son shall be adjudged a pirate, and on conviction thereof before 
;he circuit court of the United States for the district wherein he 
may be brought or found, shall suffer death. 

Sect. 5. And be it further enacted, That, if any citizen of 
the United States, being of the crew or ship's company of any 
foreign ship or vessel engaged in the slave trade, or any person 
whatever, being of the crew or ship's company of any ship or 
vessel owned wholly or in part, or navigated for, or in behalf of. 
any citizen or citizens of the United States, shall forcibly confine 
or detain, or aid and abet in forcibly confining or detaining, on 
boat rl any such ship or vessel, any negro, or mulatto, not held 
to service by the laws of either of the states or territories of the 
United States, with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave, 
or shall, on board any such ship or vessel, offer or attempt to sell, 
us a slave, any negro or mulatto, not held to service as aforesaid, 
or shall, on the high seas, or any where on tide water, transfer, 
or deliver over* to any other ship or vessel, any such negro or 
mulatto, not held to service, as aforesaid, with intent to raakr 
such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall land or deliver on shore, 
from on board any such ship or vessel, any such negro or mulatto, 
with intent to make sale of, or having previously sold, such ne- 
gro or mulatto, as a slave, such citizen or person shall be ad- 
judged a pirate, and on conviction thereof; before the circuit 
court of the United States for the district wherein he shall 
brought or found, shall suffer death. 



APPENDIX. 87 

EXECUTION OF THE PRECEDING LAWS. 

Since January 1820, numerous slave vessels have been 
captured by the United States cruisers, and sent in for ad- 
judication, and others have been detained and doubtless 
detered from prosecuting their nefarious purposes by the 
vigilance of our brave naval officers, sent to the coast of 
Africa. Much credit therefore is due to them for their in- 
defatigable exertions in enforcing those laws. 

It is ascertained by the perusal of a file of the " Royal 
Gazette," published at Sierra Leone from January 1820, to 
June, 1821. During that time His B. M. Cruisers under 
the command of Sir George Collier captured nearly twenty 
slave vessels, which were condemned at Sierra Leone 
and their crews punished: these vessels contained from one 
to two thousand Africans. 

Thus by the philanthopy of the American and British 
governments, and indefatigable vigilance of their naval 
commanders; together with the benevolent operations of 
the African Institution and American Colonization So- 
ciety: considerable has been done toward destroying the 
banc of Africa and opprobrium of the world. 

From the Missionary Register ', for March , 1821. 

THE Second of Sir George Collier's Reports 
on the Western Coast of Africa, mentioned at p. 5, 
of the Survey, furnishes some interesting particu- 
lars on the state of the Slave Trade, and the cha- 
racter of the Krew (or ICroo) People. 

Slave Trade on the Windward Coast. 

From the shoals of Cape Ann to Cape Palmas, the sou- 
thern pitch of the Windward Coast, Slave-Factories have 
been maintained; with the exception of that part which gives 
birth to a most industrious race of people, called Krew 
Men, who are well known by every description of vessel 
on the whole line of coast, whether coming there for the 
purposes of general traffic or for the purchase of Slaves. 

The towns of the Krew (or Kroo) Men are marked on 
the charts by the name of Krew and Settera Krew. 

North of Settera Krew, to the very verge of our Sierra- 
Leone southern boundaries, there are Slave depots esta- 
blished, conducted by European renegadoes or their descen- 
dants. The small river of Gallinas, between Cape Mount 
And St. Ann's shoals^ is the first establishment of this sort. 



88 APPENDIX. 

At Cape Mount, a Chief, calling himself King Peter, re- 
sides; and here vessels of all nations occasionally resort: 
under this Cape excellent anchorage in the dry season is 
obtained. The same may be said of Cape Mesurado, though 
somewhat more exposed. From thence to Settera Krew, 
little protection is afforded to vessels anchoring, and the 
ground is generally interrupted by rocks. But every tall 
tree marks where a Slave-factory once stood; and where 
Slaves may still be procured, if previous notice be given. 

From the Krew Country to Cape Palmas, very little Slav- 
ing is carried on; and the cultivation of rice and pepper, 
and the collecting of ivory, appear to require only a con- 
tinuance of the encouragement which they are now receiv- 
ing from Sierra Leone, to induce the Natives to forego the 
traffic in Slaves altogether. 

From Cape Palmas to Cape Three Points on the Gold 
Coast, the palm oil, cam-wood, and ivory trade was improv- 
ing; and, with the encouragement given by the Government, 
whenever the Slave Trade north of the Line shall be com- 
pletely abolished, commerce will not only increase, but a pro- 
fitable trade to Great Britain result. The tobacco of the 
Brazils, formed into rolls, is one of the articles most in de- 
mand among the Natives; and must be had by the merchant, 
as none other will to any extent be accepted in barter by the 
Native Traders. 

It is along this great extent of coast that foreign vessels 
frequently anchor. That their object is unlawful, can never 
be doubted. In all those which I examined, with the ex- 
ception of one brig, their between-decks were fitted for the 
reception of Slaves: their coppers for cooking pretty accu- 
rately showed the number of Slaves which they meant to 
provide for; and the number of watercasks, the probable 
length of time which the vessels would be occupied in their 
voyage. 

This coast is so situate and so connected, that, supposing 
a vessel at Mesurado about to take in a cargo of Slaves, and 
a man-of-war appears to windward off the river Galinas,or is 
observed examining a ship at the anchorage off Cape Mount, 
the signal by fires is immediately made : the whole range of 
coast is thus apprised ; and precaution used to avoid detec- 
tion, by going off the coast. If slaves be embarked, or if 
they be still on shore, they are there kept till the result of 
the examination of the vessel : for slaves have been known 
waiting in some parts of this coast more than twelve months, 
to embark in a particular ship. Though this may appear a 
Heavy drawback on the profits of the Slave-Dealers, those 



APPENDIX 89 

are so enormous and the temptation thus so great, that, once 
entered upon successfully, no subsequent loss is either felt 
or considered. 

Vessels, fitted as I have previously described, can have 
no other object than that of Slaving; and, I humbly appre- 
hend, ought not to be permitted to anchor on this coast: for 
it is not necessary that they should do so, in their course to 
that part of the coast of Africa where the Slave Trade is 
still permitted; nor does it afford the apology of its being 
convenient for the purpose of watering. And until ships 
fitted evidently for Slaving found trading on these coasts 
north of the Line shall be subject to confiscation, and until 
the carrying or trading in Slaves illegally shall be declared 
piracy, men of most European Nations will be found ready 
to engage in this most detestable traffic. 

Account of tine Kievr (or Kroo) MLciu 

The precise boundaries of the country possessed by the 
Krew Men, I do not know. The anchorage off their towns 
is not the best, and the beach here is broken by several clus- 
ters of rocks. I attempted a landing in the Tartar's life- 
boat, but the excessive surf forbade it: and as I was not at 
that time acquainted with the coast nor the character of the 
natives, I judged it prudent to relinquish my intention of 
visiting their Chief; more especially as, in all visits of Eu- 
ropeans to these people, presents of cloths and spirits (arid 
these frequently to some amount) are indispensable to insure 
civil reception and a safe return: for, without these, an 
African Chief considers all visitors as intruders or spies. 

The Krew People, though the most intelligent class of 
Africans, have the misfortune to be governed by a most ar- 
bitrary Chief. They are of a race entire different from their 
more northern neighbours; and excepting the woolly head, 
have none of the characteristics of the Negro. The fore- 
head is large and bold, the eye intelligent, the nose not un~ 
frequently prominent, the teeth regular and beautifully white^ 
and the lips not so thick as the more southern Negro. 

The face of the Krew Man is, however always disfigur- 
ed with a broad black line, from, the forehead down to the 

nose; and the barb of an arrow, as thus £> on each side 

of the temple, This is so decidedly the Krew Mark, that in- 
stances have occured of these men being claimed and re- 
deemed from Slavery, only from bearing this characteristic 
mark of independence; for it is by no means unusual for ves- 
sels under the Portuguese and Spanish Flags (and it wa* 



£b VPPENDIX. 

not uncommon formerly with the British) to invite entire 
canoe-crews on board, and carry the whole into Slavery 
and this happened very recently on the Gold Coast, in the 
instance of a vessel under Spanish and American Colours ., 
The complexion of the Krew Men varies much, from a dark 
brown to a perfect black; yet, in all, the Krew Mark is dis- 
tinguished. It is formed by a number of small punctures 
in the skin; and fixed irremoveably, by being rubbed, when 
newly punctured, with a composition of bruised gunpow- 
der and palm oil. The body is usually marked in a very 
extraordinary manner, and by the like means. 

The general stature of the Krew Man is about the mid- 
dle size, and of very athletic form: he is hardy and robust* 
of most excellent disposition, clear comprehensive under- 
standing, and much attached to the Naval Service of Great 
Britain; and, for this Service, many of these people are hired 
during the customary period of his Majesty's Ships remain- 
ing on the coast; but they will not engage for an unlimited 
time, nor will they willingly serve during the seasons of rains , 
when they prefer their own country, complaining of fc the want 
of clothing as the rains set in; and if exposed to these, they 
are subject to agues, of a lasting, though not of a very vio- 
lent description: but this complaint they always dread. 

The attachment of these people to the English is un- 
bounded; and their confidence in a British Naval Officer so 
great, that to some of them, whom from ill health it was 
necessary to part with, the Commodore's promise, that their 
wages should either be sent to them, if not given to their 
own Headman or Captain, or left with the Governor of 
Sierra Leone for their own use, was satisfactory. I found 
some of the Krew Men in distress, at St. Thomas's and at 
Princess Island, begging a passage to their native country; 
and complaining of having been turned on shore from Eng- 
lish and Danish Vessels, and without compensation. 

When these men are embarked, a Headman usually ac- 
companies them; and he becomes responsible for the return 
■ t the whole. In their absence, their wives and children 
are put in care of the Pines, or magistrates of the country; 
and one half of the earnings of each man is claimed by the 
King or Chief, as remuneration for the care and expense 
of his family during his absence. The slightest attempt at 
»iaud in the payment, is punished with certain death, and 
confiscation of the delinquent's property. The Headman 
on board the Tartar complained of this and other arbitra- 
ry proceedings of their King, and regretted that the Ki 

n were not under British protection. These people 



APPENDIX, 91 

cakthe English Language with correctness; and therefore 
had no difficulty in making known to us their distresses and 
desires. 

Like all the uninstructed Natives of Africa, the Krew 
Men are extremely superstitious. What is called Fetish- 
ism, is the prevailing form of religion along the whole line 
of this sea coast; and it is the most barbarous of all idola- 
try. To protect them from the power of the Evil Spirit, 
whom they dread as the author or agent of all calamity, the 
Chief Priest (similar to the Succombe Woong Choong of 
the Great River, on the Gold Coast) sells the Krew Men 
amulets or charms, said to possess all the virtue necessary 
to protect them. But the amulet, which of all others, the 
Krew Men hold in the highest estimation, is the skin of a 
weazle, bandecoote, or martin, stuffed and covered up, and 
thus worn round the neck: the ignorant Krew Man, possess- 
ing this treasure, will face any danger, or encounter any peril, 
however great; and if he falls under the paw of the hyaene of 
that country, or is caught within the jaw of the shark (which 
abounds in the sea), his friends consider that he has offended 
his Fetish, either by inattention or want of faith, or by not 
dedicating to him a share of every meal. I mention this, 
to show only, that if the Krew Men could be better inform- 
ed, how strictly they are likely to adhere to improvement; 
but they are bigoted to their superstitions beyond descrip- 
tion. 

The Krew Country is rich in grain, and the shores abound 
in fish. They are fond of agriculture: their habits are in- 
dustrious : and their perfect knowledge of the English Lan- 
guage is remarkable. The good-will of their Chief might, 
I think, be procured easily; and their High Priest himself 
be brought to consider the improvement of his fortune of 
more value than his present superstition. These people 
are in all respects, superior to every other class of the Na- 
tives of Africa. They are not permitted by their laws to 
engage in the Slave Trade: yet they cannot, oftentimes, re- 
sist the temptation offered by Europeans and others; and 
their assistance is frequently very important. 



42 APPENDIX 



MISCELLANIES 



Dreadful Occurrence. 

In further accumulation of the horrors incident to the 
Slave trade, we have to notice the fate of the Spanish slav- 
ing schooner Carlota, which sunk a few days since off the 
Gallinas, with a full complement of slaves on board. 

This vessel was one of several brought in here collective- 
ly, somewhat above twelve months since, by H. M. ship 
Myrmidon, Capt. Leeke, and H. M. ship Morgiana, Capt. 
Sandilands. The Carlota was in some ambiguous situation, 
as a kind of prize to a kind of cruizer, carrying Artigas co- 
lours. After some investigation, both were allowed to sail 
hence; and the Carlota, it appears, returned to the Havana, 
to refit for another slaving voyage, on which she was per- 
mitted to proceed, notwithstanding the expiration of the 
time limited by treaty for the total abolition on the part of 
Spain, on the ground that the preceding voyage had been 
rendered abortive. 

The Carlota sailed from the Havana, and was found at 
the Gallinas by Sir George Collier, in his voyage down the 
coast. The cargo of the Carlota was on shore, with every 
appearance that it was in the course of barter for slaves. 
The Commodore took her down as far as Cape Coast, and 
after authenticating some papers to show the illegality of 
her voyage, allowed her to depart.- — She returned, it ap- 
pears, to the Gallinas, and there took in two hundred and 
fifty slaves, with whom she sailed from the coast; but, 
dreadful to relate, before she had proceeded far, she was 
taken unprepared by a tornado, overset and sunk, and all on 
board perished, with the exception of twelve! The intelli- 
gence of this horrid event has been brought to the colony 
by three Spanish sailors belonging to the vessel, who arri- 
ved a few days since in a very small boat in a wretchedly 
exhausted condition. They were immediately placed in the 
military hospital, where, notwithstanding the greatest at- 
tention and kindest treatment, one of them has since died: 
the other two continue still in a very weak state. 

Royal Gazette, (Sierra Leone. J 



APPENDIX 



THE MURDEROUS TRAFFIC. 

We observe that two others have been captured at Bon- 
ny, on the coast of Africa, by the boats of the British ves* 
sels, Tartar and Thistle.— -One of them was a schooner of 
many heavy guns, and an abundance of small arms man- 
ed by about fifty of "the most desperate fellows unhung," 
as the account says, and great address, as well as some very 
severe fighting was necessary to take her. She had Spanish 
colours, but her crew, by their language, were chiefly Ame- 
rican or English, who appeared to be excessively alarmed at 
their condition, after capture, fearfully looking to their well 
earned reward, the gallows. On board this vessel there 
were 450 slaves, among whom the dysentery already pre- 
vailed, by which many had died, and the dead and dying 
were mixed together. The other was under the Portuguese 
flag, and having only just commenced business, had only 
about 100 slaves on board. In the former, the women who 
were said to be comfortably stowed, compared with the men, 
had a room four feet high, sixteen feet long, and nine feet 
wide to sleep in. One hundred of them were crammed in- 
to this place, wherein the thermometer stood at 100°. We 
pray that in some of the captures made, evidence may be 
had to commit some of the principals in this nefarious 
trade. The execution of a dozen or two of persons living 
in the United States would do much to check it, and save 
hundreds of lives in a year. 

Niks' Register, 



From the New Monthly Magazine, for Sept. 1821, p. 455. 

Accounts from Africa have been received from Sierra 
Leone. They relate to the mission of a Mr. O'Beirne, who 
had been sent to form friendly commercial relations with 
some of the native powers. It appears that he entered the 
Limba country by Laiah, a town about 20 miles from the 
river, which bounds the Timmanee country. The chiefs 
treated him kindly; and the chief of Port Logo especially, 
who accompanied him to Woolla, and sent his brother with 
him to Kookoona. From the latter place he proceeded to 
the Foulah frontier, but was stopped for a few days at a 



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